Concept explainers
The phases of interstellar medium include.
Answer to Problem 1QP
Option (a),(b) and (d).
Explanation of Solution
Interstellar medium is the matter exists between the star systems in the galaxy includes dusts, gases and molecular form, cosmic rays and so on.
The dense region in the interstellar medium is very prone to the formation of the stars. As it is very dense the pressure in this region is too high.
As the pressure increases, temperature also increases and hence there is seldom possibility of existence of hot gas in high dense state and other combinations are possible.
Conclusion:
The all possible combinations can be a phase of interstellar medium except the high dense gas at high temperature. Thus, option (a), (b) and (d) are correct.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 15 Solutions
21st Century Astronomy: The Solar System (Sixth Edition)
- Why evidence can you cite that the interstellar medium contains both gas and dust?arrow_forwardThe mass of the interstellar medium is determined by a balance between sources (which add mass) and sinks (which remove it). Make a table listing the major sources and sinks, and briefly explain each one.arrow_forwardA molecular cloud is about 1000 times denser than the average of the interstellar medium. Let’s compare this difference in densities to something more familiar. Air has a density of about 1 kg/m3, so something 1000 times denser than air would have a density of about 1000 kg/m3. How does this compare to the typical density of water? Of granite? (You can find figures for these densities on the internet.) Is the density difference between a molecular cloud and the interstellar medium larger or smaller than the density difference between air and water or granite?arrow_forward
- Prepare a table listing the different ways in which dust and gas can be detected in interstellar space.arrow_forwardConsider a grain of sand that contains 1 mg of oxygen (a typical amount for a medium-sized sand grain, since sand is mostly SiO2). How many oxygen atoms does the grain contain? What is the radius of the sphere you would have to spread them out over if you wanted them to have the same density as the interstellar medium, about 1 atom per cm3? You can look up the mass of an oxygen atom.arrow_forwardThe first stars to form in our galaxy a. had circular orbits. b. had highly elliptical orbits. c. were population I stars. d. all had orbits in the same plane. e. formed the galactic clusters we see today.arrow_forward
- Halo population stars have I. circular orbits in the plane of the galaxy. II. randomly tipped, elliptical orbits. III. old stars with low metal content. IV. young stars with heavy metal content. a. I and II b. I and III c. II and III d. II and IV e. I and IVarrow_forwardThe traditional theory states that our galaxy formed a. as a large spherical cloud of gas that was rotating very slowly. b. from a large cloud of material that broke off from a larger galaxy. c. from material that had been ejected in the violent explosion of a dying galaxy. d. as a result of mergers between several smaller groups of gas, dust, and stars. e. as two massive galaxies collided.arrow_forwardThe traditional theory of the formation of our galaxy CANNOT explain a. the existence of the disk of the galaxy. b. the fact that the oldest stars in the galaxy are not metal free. c. the spherical distribution of the globular clusters. d. the difference in metal abundance of the population I and II stars. e. the existence of the nuclear bulge.arrow_forward
- Explain why interstellar molecules are best observed at radio wavelengths.arrow_forwardIn which portion of the spectrum is the core of the galaxy invisible? a. infrared b. visible c. gamma ray d. X ray e. radioarrow_forwardSome interstellar Properties. Use excel calculator to fill in the missing figures. 1 ly = 365 × 24 × 60 × 60 × 300, 000km/s = 9.46 × 10^12 kmarrow_forward
- AstronomyPhysicsISBN:9781938168284Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. WolffPublisher:OpenStaxHorizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course ...PhysicsISBN:9781305960961Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning