Astronomy
1st Edition
ISBN: 9781938168284
Author: Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher: OpenStax
expand_more
expand_more
format_list_bulleted
Concept explainers
Textbook Question
Chapter 23, Problem 26E
You 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?
Expert Solution & Answer
Trending nowThis is a popular solution!
Students have asked these similar questions
For 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.
You discover a binary star system in which one member is a 15 solar-mass main-sequence star and the other star is a 10
solar-mass giant. Why should you be surprised, at least at first?
A. It doesn't make sense to find a giant in a binary star system.
B. The two stars in a binary system should both be at the same point in stellar evolution; that is, they should either both
be main-sequence stars or both be giants.
C. The two stars should be the same age, so the more massive one should have become a giant first.
D. The odds of ever finding two such massive stars in the same binary system are so small as to make it inconceivable
that such a system could be discovered.
E. A star with a mass of 15 solar-mass is too big to be a main-sequence star.
Based on what you know about main-sequence stars, select all of the correct statements from the following list.
1. Since the interiors of stars cannot be observed, there are no theories about their structure.
2. More massive stars are hotter and brighter.
3. The weight of a star must be balanced by internal pressure.
4. More massive stars live longer; they take longer to use up all their energy.
5. Stars change position on the main sequence throughout their lives.
6. Outward energy flow in a star is by conduction only.
Chapter 23 Solutions
Astronomy
Ch. 23 - How does a white dwarf differ from a neutron star?...Ch. 23 - Describe the evolution of a star with a mass like...Ch. 23 - Describe the evolution of a massive star (say, 20...Ch. 23 - How do the two types of supernovae discussed in...Ch. 23 - A star begins its life with a mass of 5 MSunbut...Ch. 23 - If the formation of a neutron star leads to a...Ch. 23 - How can the Crab Nebula shine with the energy of...Ch. 23 - How is a nova different from a type Ia supernova?...Ch. 23 - Apart from the masses, how are binary systems with...Ch. 23 - What observations from SN 1987A helped confirm...
Ch. 23 - Describe the evolution of a white dwarf over time,...Ch. 23 - Describe the evolution of a pulsar over time, in...Ch. 23 - How would a white dwarf that formed from a star...Ch. 23 - What do astronomers think are the causes of...Ch. 23 - How did astronomers finally solve the mystery of...Ch. 23 - Arrange the following stars in order of their...Ch. 23 - Would you expect to find any white dwarfs in the...Ch. 23 - Suppose no stars more massive than about 2 MSunhad...Ch. 23 - Would you be more likely to observe a type II...Ch. 23 - Astronomers believe there are something like 100...Ch. 23 - Would you expect to observe every supernova in our...Ch. 23 - The Large Magellanic Cloud has about one-tenth the...Ch. 23 - Look at the list of the nearest stars in Appendix...Ch. 23 - If most stars become white dwarfs at the ends of...Ch. 23 - If a 3 and 8 MSunstar formed together in a binary...Ch. 23 - You have discovered two star clusters. The first...Ch. 23 - A supernova remnant was recently discovered and...Ch. 23 - Based upon the evolution of stars, place the...Ch. 23 - What observations or types of telescopes would you...Ch. 23 - How would the spectra of a type II supernova be...Ch. 23 - The ring around SN 1987A (Figure 23.12) initially...Ch. 23 - What is the acceleration of gravity (g) at the...Ch. 23 - What is the escape velocity from the Sun? How much...Ch. 23 - What is the average density of the Sun? How does...Ch. 23 - Say that a particular white dwarf has the mass of...Ch. 23 - What is the escape velocity from the white dwarf...Ch. 23 - What is the average density of the white dwarf in...Ch. 23 - Now take a neutron star that has twice the mass of...Ch. 23 - What is the escape velocity from the neutron star...Ch. 23 - What is the average density of the neutron star in...Ch. 23 - One way to calculate the radius of a star is to...Ch. 23 - According to a model described in the text, a...Ch. 23 - Do the same calculations as in Exercise 23.42 but...Ch. 23 - If the Sun were replaced by a white dwarf with a...Ch. 23 - A supernova can eject material at a velocity of...Ch. 23 - A supernova remnant was observed in 2007 to be...Ch. 23 - The ring around SN 1987A (Figure 23.12) started...Ch. 23 - Before the star that became SN 1987A exploded, it...Ch. 23 - What is the radius of the progenitor star that...Ch. 23 - What is the acceleration of gravity at the surface...Ch. 23 - What was the escape velocity from the surface of...Ch. 23 - What was the average density of the star that...Ch. 23 - If the pulsar shown in Figure 23.16 is rotating...
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Find more solutions based on key concepts
The accompanying chromosome diagram represents a eukaryotic chromosome prepared with Giemsa stain. Indicate the...
Genetic Analysis: An Integrated Approach (3rd Edition)
Use the key to classify each of the following described tissue types into one of the four major tissue categori...
Anatomy & Physiology (6th Edition)
Where are skeletal cartilages located?
Human Anatomy & Physiology (2nd Edition)
10.71 Identify each of the following as an acid or a base: (10.1)
H2SO4
RbOH
Ca(OH)2
HI
...
Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry (13th Edition)
The distances you obtained in Question 3 are for only one side of the ridge. Assuming that a ridge spreads equa...
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
EVOLUTION CONNECTION Crossing over is thought to be evolutionarily advantageous because it continually shuffles...
Campbell Biology (11th Edition)
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- Give ALL correct answers referring to the properties of known stars, i.e., B, AC, BCD... A) On the main sequence, more massive stars are colder. B) High mass stars are the most numerous type of stars observed in the galaxy. C) Giants are colder than main sequence stars at the same luminosity. D) Giants are brighter than dwarfs at the same temperature. E) On the main sequence, more massive stars are dimmer. F) White dwarf stars are much denser than main sequence stars. Hint: White dwarf stars have about the mass of our sun, but are only the size of the Earth. Therefore, they have a very high density.arrow_forwardThe sketch below shows an H-R diagram for a star cluster. Consider the star to which the arrow points. How is it currently generating energy? Temperature A. by hydrogen shell burning around an inert helium core B. by gravitational contraction C. by core hydrogen fusion D.by core helium fusion combined with hydrogen shell burning E. by both hydrogen and helium shell burning around an inert carbon core Luminosity -→arrow_forwardQuestion 41 .Suppose you are looking at H-R diagrams of two similar star clusters. The most luminous main sequence stars in the Porcini cluster are much more luminous than the most luminous main sequence stars in the Morel cluster. What can you conclude? O the Porcini cluster is younger than the Morel cluster O the Porcini cluster is farther away than the Morel cluster O the Porcini cluster is lower in metallicity than the Morel cluster O the Porcini cluster is larger in diameter than the Morel clusterarrow_forward
- Based on what you learned about stellar evolution, select all of the correct statements from the following list. 1. The period of some Cepheid variables actually changes. 2. When getting dimmer, variable stars are releasing energy; when getting brighter they are storing energy. 3. variable stars are expanding and contracting 4. despite their variability, variable stars stay in a specific position on the H-R diagram. 5. A changing period in a Cepheid variable means that the size of the star is changing and that the star is therefore evolving. 6. Only stars on the instability strip are variable. 7. More massive stars will vary their brightness more quickly.arrow_forwardDescribe 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_forwardAre supergiant stars also extremely massive? Explain the reasoning behind your answer.arrow_forward
- Place the following events in the formation of stars in the proper chronological sequence, with the oldest first and the youngest last. w. the gas and dust in the nebula flatten to a disk shape due to gravity and a steadily increasing rate of angular rotation x. a star emerges when the mass is great enough and the temperature is high enough to trigger thermonuclear fusion in the core y. the rotation of the nebular cloud increases as gas and dust concentrates by gravity within the growing protostar in the center z. some force, perhaps from a nearby supernova, imparts a rotation to a nebular cloud y, then z, then w, then x z, then y, then w, then x w, then y, then z, then x z, then x, then w, then y x, then z, then y, then w MacBook Air on .H. O O O Oarrow_forwardThe mass-luminosity relation describes the mathematical relationship between luminosity and mass for main sequence stars. It describes how a star with a mass of 4 M⊙ would have a luminosity of ______ L⊙. If a star has a radius 1/2 that of the Sun and a temperature 4 that of the Sun, how many times higher is the star's luminosity than that of the Sun? (If it is smaller by a factor of 8, you would write 0.125 because 1/8=0.125) If a star has a radius 2 times larger than the Sun's and a luminosity 1/4th that of the Sun, how many times higher is the star's temperature than that of the Sun? (If it is smaller by a factor of 8, you would write 0.125 because 1/8=0.125) If a star has a surface temperature 2 times lower than the Sun's and a luminosity the same as the Sun, how many times larger is the star than the Sun? (If it is smaller by a factor of 8, you would write 0.125 because 1/8=0.125)arrow_forwardStars found on the main sequence of a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram share certain features not shared by other stars. What are these features? A Stars on the main sequence of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram are all roughly the same radius. Stars on the main sequence of a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram do not produce heavy elements like iron. Stars on the main sequence of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram have an orderly arrangement of stellar masses, decreasing in mass from lower right to upper left. Stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram main sequence have roughly the same age. Stars on the main sequence of a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram all generate energy from nuclear fusion. B D E F) None of the mentioned choices. 4arrow_forward
- Which of the following is least reasonable regarding the mass of stars? Group of answer choices The vast majority of stars fall into the range of 0.08 to 100 solar mass. Stars which are too small cannot sustain nuclear fusion. Stars which are excessively big are too sluggish to sustain nuclear fusion. There are more stars on the low end than on the high end of the mass spectrum. A brown dwarf has a mass just below the least massive star.arrow_forwardChoose the correct statements concerning spectral classes of stars. (Give ALL correct answers, i.e., B, AC, BCD...) A) Neutral hydrogen lines dominate the spectrum for stars with temperatures around 10,000 K because a lot of the hydrogen is in the n=2 level. B) Hydrogen lines are weak in type O-stars because most of it is completely ionized. C) Oh Be A Fine Guy/Girl Kiss Me, is a mnemonic for remembering spectral classes. D) The spectral sequence has recently been expanded to include L, T, and Y classes. E) K-stars are dominated by lines from ionized helium because they are so hot. F) The spectral types of stars arise primarily as a result of differences in temperature.arrow_forwardA group of graduate students, bored during a cloudy night at a the observatory, begin to make bets about the time different stars will take to evolve. If they have a cluster of stars which were all born roughly the same time, and want to know which star will become a red giant first, which of the following stars should they bet on? a. a star that would type O on the main sequence star b. a star about 1/2 the mass of our sun c. a star about 8% the mass of our sun d. all stars reach the red giant stage in roughly the same number of yearsarrow_forward
arrow_back_ios
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
arrow_forward_ios
Recommended textbooks for you
AstronomyPhysicsISBN:9781938168284Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. WolffPublisher:OpenStax
Stars and GalaxiesPhysicsISBN:9781305120785Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399920Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399944Author:Michael A. SeedsPublisher:Cengage Learning
Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:9781938168284
Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher:OpenStax
Stars and Galaxies
Physics
ISBN:9781305120785
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399920
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399944
Author:Michael A. Seeds
Publisher:Cengage Learning