Concept explainers
The complete formation process of the star.
Explanation of Solution
Introduction:
The process through which thicker regions within molecular clouds in interstellar space collapse to form stars is referred to as star formation process. Stars represent the most basic bricks of galaxies. The formation and distribution of elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen are due to the stars.
The formation of a star can be understood by a study of the interstellar medium. The interstellar medium is mainly composed of
At very low temperatures, the gases bind together to form molecules clouds. The cold regions inside molecular clouds also cause the gas to lump to high densities. When the desired density is achieved, stars form.
The formation of a star is due to the collapse of the cloud core in the denser region under their own weight/gravity. The centers are thicker than the outer cloud. So, they collapse first. As the core collapses, they fragment forms lumps. These lumps then combine to form into the protostar. A protostar continues to collapse to form star as long as the gravitational energy is balanced by the pressure due to the nuclear fusion reaction in the core.
Conclusion:
Therefore, the complete formation process of the star is studied in astronomy by observing and analyzing the behavior of interstellar medium and molecular clouds without even see the entire star formation process.
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Chapter 18 Solutions
Universe: Stars And Galaxies
- Describe the evolution of a star with a mass similar to that of the Sun, from the protostar stage to the time it first becomes a red giant. Give the description in words and then sketch the evolution on an HR diagram.arrow_forwardLook at the four stages shown in Figure 21.8. In which stage(s) can we see the star in visible light? In infrared radiation? Figure 21.8 Formation of a Star. (a) Dense cores form within a molecular cloud. (b) A protostar with a surrounding disk of material forms at the center of a dense core, accumulating additional material from the molecular cloud through gravitational attraction. (c) A stellar wind breaks out but is confined by the disk to flow out along the two poles of the star. (d) Eventually, this wind sweeps away the cloud material and halts the accumulation of additional material, and a newly formed star, surrounded by a disk, becomes observable. These sketches are not drawn to the same scale. The diameter of a typical envelope that is supplying gas to the newly forming star is about 5000 AU. The typical diameter of the disk is about 100 AU or slightly larger than the diameter of the orbit of Pluto.arrow_forwardIn the HR diagrams for some young clusters, stars of both very low and very high luminosity are off to the right of the main sequence, whereas those of intermediate luminosity are on the main sequence. Can you offer an explanation for that? Sketch an HR diagram for such a cluster.arrow_forward
- You can use the equation in Exercise 22.34 to estimate the approximate ages of the clusters in Figure 22.10, Figure 22.12, and Figure 22.13. Use the information in the figures to determine the luminosity of the most massive star still on the main sequence. Now use the data in Table 18.3 to estimate the mass of this star. Then calculate the age of the cluster. This method is similar to the procedure used by astronomers to obtain the ages of clusters, except that they use actual data and model calculations rather than simply making estimates from a drawing. How do your ages compare with the ages in the text? Figure 22.10 NGC 2264 HR Diagram. Compare this HR diagram to that in Figure 22.8; although the points scatter a bit more here, the theoretical and observational diagrams are remarkably, and satisfyingly, similar. Figure 22.12 Cluster M41. (a) Cluster M41 is older than NGC 2264 (see Figure 22.10) and contains several red giants. Some of its more massive stars are no longer close to the zero-age main sequence (red line). (b) This ground-based photograph shows the open cluster M41. Note that it contains several orange-color stars. These are stars that have exhausted hydrogen in their centers, and have swelled up to become red giants. (credit b: modification of work by NOAO/AURA/NSF) Figure 22.13 HR Diagram for an Older Cluster. We see the HR diagram for a hypothetical older cluster at an age of 4.24 billion years. Note that most of the stars on the upper part of the main sequence have turned off toward the red-giant region. And the most massive stars in the cluster have already died and are no longer on the diagram. Characteristics of Main-Sequence Starsarrow_forwardAccording to the text, a star must be hotter than about 25,000 K to produce an H II region. Both the hottest white dwarfs and main-sequence O stars have temperatures hotter than 25,000 K. Which type of star can ionize more hydrogen? Why?arrow_forwardYou have discovered two star clusters. The first cluster contains mainly main-sequence stars, along with some red giant stars and a few white dwarfs. The second cluster also contains mainly main-sequence stars, along with some red giant stars, and a few neutron stars-but no white dwarf stars. What are the relative ages of the clusters? How did you determine your answer?arrow_forward
- If you were to compare three stars with the same surface temperature, with one star being a giant, another a supergiant, and the third a main-sequence star, how would their radii compare to one another?arrow_forwardDescribe the two “recycling” mechanisms that are associated with stars (one during each star’s life and the other connecting generations of stars).arrow_forwardWhat are the two main nuclear chains known in stars and what are they responsible for? What are the differences between both? Don't copy from Google i need unique answerarrow_forward
- As a cluster of stars begins to age, which type of star in the cluster will move off the main sequence of the H-R diagram first? 1) all the stars in a cluster are born at the same time; so they will all move off the main sequence at the same time, as they evolve 2) G type stars, like our Sun 3) M type stars, which are the coolest 4) the lowest mass stars, which have the least amount of fuel for fusion 5) the O and B type starsarrow_forwardFor each statement concerning main sequence stars, select T True, F False, G Greater than, L Less than, or E Equal to. A) The surface temperature of a O type star is .... than a K type star. B) On the main sequence, the mass of a O type star is .... than a F type star. C) On the main sequence, a M type star's life is .... than a G type star. D) The surface temperature of our Sun is .... than the surface temperature of Sirius. E) When stars start hydrogen burning, thier mass determines where they are on the main sequence. F) Based on the relative lifes of M and G type stars we expect the number of M stars to be .... than the number of G type stars.arrow_forward3) indicate which locations in the H-R diagram correspond to places where the evolution is slow. Answers should be in the order they occur in the star. For example, if, in order, E, I and A are locations where there is a long time between changes, then enter EIA. (HINT: There are exactly three of them Hint: Hint: Our sun will be stable for another 4 billion years and white dwarfs last a long time because they are small. Really good additional hint: There are 3 places where the evolution is slow. Info below is what each of the labels are. 1) red giant, helium flash A2) white dwarf F3) red giant with helium burning shell B4) hydrogen fusion in shell around core I5) helium fusion in core D6) envelope ejected, planetary nebula H7) main-sequence star C8) helium used up, core collapses G9) hydrogen used up, core collapses Earrow_forward
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