Question

Compared to the star it evolved from, a white dwarf is

• A. hotter and brighter.
• B. hotter and dimmer.
• C. cooler and brighter.
• D. cooler and dimmer.

Answer 1

The correct option is B hotter and dimmer.

A star's temperature is only 5,800 K, while a white dwarf has a temperature of 100,000 K. A white dwarf's faint luminosity comes from the emission of stored thermal energy; no fusion takes place in a white dwarf wherein mass is converted to energy. Hence it is dimmer than star