Astronomy
1st Edition
ISBN: 9781938168284
Author: Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher: OpenStax
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Textbook Question
Chapter 22, Problem 28E
If all the stars in a cluster have nearly the same age, why are clusters useful in studying evolutionary effects (different stages in the lives of stars)?
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Explain pre main sequence evolution, early post main sequence evolution and advanced evolutionary stages.
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?
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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
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the O and B type stars
At the average density of a star-forming molecular cloud, about 900 atoms per cm3, determine how large a sphere you would need to encompass mass equal to that of the Sun? Enter the radius of this sphere in light-years. (HINTS: 900 atoms per cm3 corresponds to a density of 1.51×10-18kg/m^3; the mass of the Sun is 2×1030kg) (The volume of a sphere is 4/3 * π * R3) (my previous answer of 6.812 X 1015 was incorrect)
Chapter 22 Solutions
Astronomy
Ch. 22 - Compare the following stages in the lives of a...Ch. 22 - What is the first event that happens to a star...Ch. 22 - Astronomers find that 90% of the stars observed in...Ch. 22 - Describe the evolution of a star with a mass...Ch. 22 - Describe the evolution of a star with a mass...Ch. 22 - A star is often described as “moving” on an HR...Ch. 22 - On which edge of the main sequence band on an HR...Ch. 22 - How do stars typically “move” through the main...Ch. 22 - Certain stars, like Betelgeuse, have a lower...Ch. 22 - Gravity always tries to collapse the mass of a...
Ch. 22 - Why are star clusters so useful for astronomers...Ch. 22 - Would the Sun more likely have been a member of a...Ch. 22 - Suppose you were handed two HR diagrams for two...Ch. 22 - Referring to the HR diagrams in Exercise 22.13,...Ch. 22 - The nuclear process for fusing helium into carbon...Ch. 22 - Pictures of various planetary nebulae show a...Ch. 22 - Describe the two “recycling” mechanisms that are...Ch. 22 - In which of these star groups would you mostly...Ch. 22 - Explain how an HR diagram of the stars in a...Ch. 22 - Where did the carbon atoms in the trunk of a tree...Ch. 22 - What is a planetary nebula? Will we have one...Ch. 22 - Is the Sun on the zero-age main sequence? Explain...Ch. 22 - How are planetary nebulae comparable to a...Ch. 22 - Which of the planets in our solar system have...Ch. 22 - Would you expect to find an earthlike planet (with...Ch. 22 - In the HR diagrams for some young clusters, stars...Ch. 22 - If the Sun were a member of the cluster NGC 2264,...Ch. 22 - If all the stars in a cluster have nearly the same...Ch. 22 - Suppose a star cluster were at such a large...Ch. 22 - Suppose an astronomer known for joking around told...Ch. 22 - Stars that have masses approximately 0.8 times the...Ch. 22 - Automobiles are often used as an analogy to help...Ch. 22 - The text says a star does not change its mass very...Ch. 22 - The text explains that massive stars have shorter...Ch. 22 - You can use the equation in Exercise 22.34 to...Ch. 22 - You can estimate the age of the planetary nebula...Ch. 22 - If star A has a core temperature T, and star B has...
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- Describe the two “recycling” mechanisms that are associated with stars (one during each star’s life and the other connecting generations of stars).arrow_forwardThe star cluster shown in this image contains a few red giants as well as main-sequence stars ranging from spectral type B to M. Discuss the likelihood that exoplanets orbiting any of these stars might be home to life. (Hint: Estimate the age of the cluster.)arrow_forwardSuppose you were handed two HR diagrams for two different clusters: diagram A has a majority of its stars plotted on the upper left part of the main sequence with the rest of the stars off the main sequence; and diagram B has a majority of its stars plotted on the lower right part of the main sequence with the rest of the stars off the main sequence. Which diagram would be for the older cluster? Why?arrow_forward
- Suppose no stars more massive than about 2 MSunhad ever formed. Would life as we know it have been able to develop? Why or why not?arrow_forwardYou 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_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
- Why is star formation more likely to occur in cold molecular clouds than in regions where the temperature of the interstellar medium is several hundred thousand degrees?arrow_forwardSelect all of the statements about the main sequence stage in the life of a star that are TRUE: All stars spend the majority of their lives in the main sequence stage. Most stars lose a significant amount of mass while they are on the Main Sequence. Different stars spend a different amounts of time (number of years) in the main sequence stage, depending on the characteristics they were born with. Main sequence stars are rare in the Galaxy, so we are lucky to be living around one. During the main sequence stage, energy to power the star is provided by the fusion of hydrogen.arrow_forwardWhat is an isochromat?arrow_forward
- What determines the mass distribution of forming stars, the initial mass function (IMF)?arrow_forwardMatch each statement with the appropriate item (if the first corresponds to B and the next 4 to C, enter BCCCC) 1) group of stars that was formed all at the same time, with the same composition 2) the top of the main sequence of a cluster; more massive stars in the cluster have already evolved 3) globular clusters stars that are burning helium in their core 4) young, spread out star cluster 5) old, dense star cluster A. main sequence turnoff B. open cluster C. star cluster D. horizontal branch stars E. globular clusterarrow_forwardIf an open cluster contains 450 stars and is 21 pc in diameter, what is the average distance between the stars? (Hint: On average, what share of the volume of the cluster surrounds each star? Note: The volume of a sphere is 4 3 ?r 3.)arrow_forward
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