GED Science Practice

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Prepare for the GED Science Exam with our comprehensive quizzes featuring flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question includes hints and explanations to help you grasp essential concepts and succeed.

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What is the term used for a star that ejects material in the form of a cloud and becomes more luminous?

Nova
Nerve
Molecule
Mollusk

The correct answer is: Nova

The term "nova" refers to a star that suddenly increases in brightness due to the ejection of material in the form of a cloud. This phenomenon occurs when a white dwarf star in a binary system accumulates material from its companion star. When the accumulated hydrogen on the surface reaches a critical point, it ignites in a thermonuclear explosion, causing the star to become significantly more luminous for a short period. The light emitted can make the star shine thousands of times brighter than its normal state. The other terms in the choices, such as "nerve," "molecule," and "mollusk," do not relate to astronomical phenomena or the behavior of stars. "Nerve" pertains to biology and the nervous system, "molecule" refers to the smallest unit of a chemical compound, and "mollusk" is a type of invertebrate animal. Therefore, "nova" is the only term that accurately describes the event of a star becoming more luminous through the ejection of material.