What is Cygnus X-1 doing to its companion star?

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Study for the NOVA Black Hole Apocalypse Astronomy Test. Explore astronomy with our rich content. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions to enhance your knowledge. Prepare effectively and uncover the mysteries of black holes. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What is Cygnus X-1 doing to its companion star?

Explanation:
Cygnus X-1 is a black hole in a close binary with a massive companion star. The star fills its Roche lobe, so material from its outer layers spills toward the black hole. This mass transfer strips material off the companion and feeds the black hole, usually forming an accretion disk that emits X-rays. So the system is actively removing mass from the star. The other ideas don’t fit as well: it’s not just a simple gravitational tug without mass loss, and there isn’t mass exchange-free tidal locking or ignition of the star’s core causing this behavior.

Cygnus X-1 is a black hole in a close binary with a massive companion star. The star fills its Roche lobe, so material from its outer layers spills toward the black hole. This mass transfer strips material off the companion and feeds the black hole, usually forming an accretion disk that emits X-rays. So the system is actively removing mass from the star. The other ideas don’t fit as well: it’s not just a simple gravitational tug without mass loss, and there isn’t mass exchange-free tidal locking or ignition of the star’s core causing this behavior.

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