Which object is typically formed when a supergiant star explodes in a supernova?

• A. Red giant
• B. Brown dwarf
• C. White dwarf
• D. Neutron star

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the life cycle of massive stars, particularly supergiants, which are stars with much greater mass than the Sun.
2. Recognize that when a supergiant star exhausts its nuclear fuel, it undergoes a catastrophic collapse leading to a supernova explosion.
3. Know that the supernova explosion results in the outer layers being expelled, while the core collapses under gravity.
4. Identify that the collapsed core of a supergiant star typically forms a neutron star, an extremely dense object composed mostly of neutrons.
5. Distinguish neutron stars from other stellar remnants such as red giants (an earlier stage), brown dwarfs (failed stars), and white dwarfs (remnants of less massive stars).