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1. Why is the term "neutron star" used to describe the collapsed core of a star that explodes as a supernova?
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2. Describe the neutronization process (also called electron capture) that occurs as a neutron star is forming.
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3. What is the size and density of a typical neutron star? What is meant by the phrase "nuclear density"?
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4. Why do neutron stars have such strong magentic fields and rotate so rapidly?
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5. What is an X-ray burster and how is it similar to a nova?
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6. Describe the discovery of pulsars and why the LGM ("little green men") hypothesis was rejected.
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7. What is the lighthouse model of pulsars?
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8. Why aren't all neutron stars observable as pulsars as seen from Earth?
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9. What are magnetars?
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10. What is the definition of a black hole? What is meant by the event horizon?
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11. What three quantities determine everything about a black hole?
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12. Why is Cygnus X-1 the best
black hole candidate? How were the other explanations ruled out?
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