Question Constellation Sign up for free AQA · GCSE · Physics · Higher
Stellar Mass and Black Hole Formation
Some main sequence stars will eventually form black holes. Table 3 gives the mass of four stars.
| Star | Mass in kg |
|---|---|
| Arcturus | 2.2 × 10³⁰ |
| Betelgeuse | 2.2 × 10³¹ |
| Cygni A | 1.4 × 10³⁰ |
| The Sun | 2.0 × 10³⁰ |
Which star in Table 3 is most likely to form a black hole?
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Marking points
- 1 Identifies Betelgeuse.
Full-mark answer
Betelgeuse
Why this answer loses marks
Chooses the star whose mass is closest to the Sun.
Black-hole formation is associated with the greatest stellar mass in the table, not similarity to the Sun.