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.

Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
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Chapter13: The Deaths Of Stars
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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.
Transcribed Image Text: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.
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