Universe: Stars And Galaxies
6th Edition
ISBN: 9781319115098
Author: Roger Freedman, Robert Geller, William J. Kaufmann
Publisher: W. H. Freeman
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Chapter 23, Problem 17Q
To determine
The importance of Cepheid variable stars for finding the distance to galaxies and their limitations on the use for this purpose.
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Students have asked these similar questions
An astronomical image shows two objects that have the same apparent magnitude, i.e., the same brightness. However, spectroscopic follow up observations indicate that while one is a star that is within our galaxy, at a distance dgal away, and has the same luminosity as the Sun, the other is a quasar and has 100x the luminosity of the entire Milky Way galaxy. What is the distance to the quasar? (You may assume, for this rough calculation, that the Milky Way has 1011 stars and that they all have the luminosity as the Sun.) Give your response in Mpc. Value: dgal = 49 pc
How astronomers determine the distance of a galaxy? Explain.
An observational survey of distant galaxies is undertaken that involves measuring their
distances using cepheid variables and red-shifts using spectroscopy. Explain how cepheid
variables can be used to measure the distances to galaxies.
A spectral line is observed whose wavelength in the laboratory is de
length of this spectral line observed in each galaxy, Xo, is listed in the table, along with
the distance, d, to the galaxy. Determine the red-shift and the recession velocity of each
galaxy and tabulate your results by making a copy of the table and filling in the blank spaces.
Sketch a Hubble diagram using your results and determine the value of the Hubble constant
Ho in units of km s-1 Mpc.
650 nm. The wave-
Galaxy 1
652.69
Galaxy 2 Galaxy 3 Galaxy 4 Galaxy 5
653.01
do (nm)
d (Mpc)
658.54
662.18
681.63
17
19
54
77
200
v (km s-1)
Chapter 23 Solutions
Universe: Stars And Galaxies
Ch. 23 - Prob. 1QCh. 23 - Prob. 2QCh. 23 - Prob. 3QCh. 23 - Prob. 4QCh. 23 - Prob. 5QCh. 23 - Prob. 6QCh. 23 - Prob. 7QCh. 23 - Prob. 8QCh. 23 - Prob. 9QCh. 23 - Prob. 10Q
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- When comparing two isolated spiral galaxies that have the same apparent brightness, but rotate at different rates, what can you say about their relative luminosity?arrow_forwardConsider the following data on four stars: Which star would have the largest radius? Which star would have the smallest radius? Which star is the most common in our area of the Galaxy? Which star is the least common?arrow_forwardAssume that dark matter is uniformly distributed throughout the Milky Way, not just in the outer halo but also throughout the bulge and in the disk, where the solar system lives. How much dark matter would you expect there to be inside the solar system? Would you expect that to be easily detectable? Hint: For the radius of the Milky Way’s dark matter halo, use R=300,000 light-years; for the solar system’s radius, use 100 AU; and start by calculating the ratio of the two volumes.arrow_forward
- H II regions can exist only if there is a nearby star hot enough to ionize hydrogen. Hydrogen is ionized only by radiation with wavelengths shorter than 91.2 nm. What is the temperature of a star that emits its maximum energy at 91.2 nm? (Use Wien’s law from Radiation and Spectra.) Based on this result, what are the spectral types of those stars likely to provide enough energy to produce H II regions?arrow_forwardBased on your analysis of galaxies in Table 26.1, is there a correlation between the population of stars and the quantity of gas or dust? Explain why this might be.arrow_forwardWhy can we not determine distances to galaxies by the same method used to measure the parallaxes of stars?arrow_forward
- If the diameter of the Milky Way Galaxys visible disk, 80,000 ly, is represented in a model by a dinner plate with a diameter of 10 inches, what is the model distance to galaxy M31, 2.6 millionly away? What is the model distance to the Virgo galaxy cluster, 16 Mpc away? (Convert answers to feet.)arrow_forwardStars form in the Milky Way at a rate of about 1 solar mass per year. At this rate, how long would it take for all the interstellar gas in the Milky Way to be turned into stars if there were no fresh gas coming in from outside? How does this compare to the estimated age of the universe, 14 billion years? What do you conclude from this?arrow_forwardThe Kormendy relation for ellipticals can be written as He = 20.2+ 3.0 log R. where R. is the half-light radius (in kpc) and 4e is the surface brightness (in magnitudes per square arc second) at R.. An elliptical galaxy obeying this relation will have a total luminosity Lo R for some index 7. What is the correct value of n? O a. n=-6/5 O b. n= 4/5 T23D Oc n= 16/5 O d. n cannot be determined with the information we have.arrow_forward
- Are the galaxies red-shifting or blue-shifting? Explain. (You may find the big-bang theory helpful). Andromeda galaxy is currently approaching our galaxy with a radial velocity of 266 km/sec. How far is our galaxy from Andromeda? (Hubble’s constant, H, is 73 km/sec/MParsec). When can the two galaxies be anticipated to collide?arrow_forward(Astronomy) White Dwarf Size I. The density of Sirius B is 2×106 g/cm3 and its mass is 1.95×1030 kg. What is the radius of the white dwarf in km? (Hint: Density = mass/volume, and the volume of a sphere is 4/3πr3) Please round your answer to two significant digits.arrow_forwardThe figure below shows the spectra of two galaxies A and B. Please can i get help with this questions below: 1. Which of these galaxies has ongoing star formation? How can you tell?2. One of these galaxies has Hubble type E3 while the other is SBb. Which is which? What does the 3 inE3 tell you about the galaxy? What does the SB in SBb tell you about the galaxy?3. What effects would dust have on the two spectra?4. Which galaxy would you expect to have more far-infrared emission? Explarrow_forward
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