What is the difference between a nova and an X-ray burster? All of the following answers are correct EXCEPT one.Which one is the exception?
A) A nova involves stars in a close binary system,whereas an X-ray burster involves an individual star not in a binary system.
B) A nova is produced by a white dwarf,whereas an X-ray burster is produced by a neutron star.
C) A nova involves the nuclear explosion of hydrogen,whereas an X-ray burster involves the nuclear explosion of helium.
D) The system that emits X-ray bursts emits a constant stream of X-rays between bursts,whereas a system that produces nova does not.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A nova and an X-ray burster both involve stars in close binary systems, not individual stars. In both cases, material is accreted from a companion star onto the surface of a white dwarf (in the case of a nova) or a neutron star (in the case of an X-ray burster), leading to the observed phenomena.

What Is the Difference Between a Nova and an X-Ray