exam 2 pt 2

Question 1

Star Formation

Answer 1

In order to form new stars we need the raw
material to make them. Our Galaxy contains vast quantities of this
“raw material”, atoms or molecules of gas
and tiny solid dust particles found between
the stars.

Question 2

Interstellar Matter

Answer 2

The interstellar medium consists of gas and dust.Gas is atoms and small molecules:
* 90% hydrogen
* 9% helium
* 1% heavier elements
This image shows distinct
reddening of stars near the edge of
the dust cloud (Barnard 68).
Dust absorbs light, and
reddens light that gets
through. Dust is larger clumps of particles - about 10-7 m in
size (wavelength of visible light) - silicates, carbon,
iron, some dirty-ice

Question 3

Star Formation

Answer 3

The air we breathe contains about
10^19
atoms per cubic centimeter. By comparison, interstellar space is incredibly sparse, with only about one atom per cubic centimeter if the gas in the Galaxy were spread evenly. Dust particles are even rarer, with just a few hundred to a few thousand grains in an entire cubic kilometer of space.

Question 4

Interstellar gas is composed primarily by:

Answer 4

90% hydrogen, 9% helium, and 1% heavier elements. The composition of interstellar gas
mirrors that of the Sun, stars, and the Jovian planets.

Question 5

Interstellar Hydrogen

Answer 5

Ionized hydrogen (H*) - gas is found in Emission
nebulae: hot, glowing area associated with the
formation of large stars.
Molecular hydrogen (H2) - Found in cold dark
dust clouds.
Atomic Hydrogen (H) - Found in cold regions
without stars between dust clouds.

Question 6

Imaging Excited Hydrogen

Answer 6

Emission nebulae are composed of atomic
hydrogen gas that is ionized by near-by stars.
These regions are called HII regions and this
visible red light has wavelength of 625-750 nm. Orbital Excitation - electron absorbs
energy and moves to higher energy orbit.

Emits visible and UV photons when it deexcites.

Question 7

Imaging Atomic Hydrogen

Answer 7

“21-cm” radiation (radio wave) is emitted by non-ionized atomic hydrogen
Spin-flip changes energy without changing
atomic orbital. Use the signal to study regions that
contain atomic hydrogen and no
visible stars. Because of its long wavelength, this
radiation from atomic hydrogen reaches
Earth unaffected by interstellar debris

Question 8

Imaging Molecular Hydrogen

Answer 8

CO emissions reveal huge molecular cloud complexes.
This image of the Milky Way covers about 1/4 of the sky. Bright regions are large CO signals.
Cold, dense clouds contain
H2 - molecular hydrogen - which
does not emit any radio signal.
Also contain trace amounts of
CO - carbon monoxide, HCN -
hydrogen cyanide, NH2 -
ammonia, H20 - water, H2CO -
formaldehyde
These molecules emit
radio waves when they
de-excite.

Question 9

“Seeing” Interstellar Matter

Answer 9

Dust clouds absorb blue light preferentially; spectral lines do not shift.
Amount of dimming gives
estimate on amount of dust.
Dark spot is gas cloud, not absence of stars.

Question 10

Nebulae

Answer 10

Nebula - region of space that is clearly distinguishable through a telescope
(dark or bright) , but is not sharply defined like a planet or a star
Emission Nebula - glowing cloud of hot interstellar medium.
Milky Way Galaxy
Bright areas are fields of stars, dark areas are obscured by dust.

Question 11

Nebular Structure

Answer 11

Visible nebular glowing part of much larger interstellar cloud. Glow red from the UV excitation of Hα line. Sometimes called HII regions.
Reflection Nebula glows blue because blue light scattered to observer more than red

Question 12

Radio-Astronomy

Answer 12

The study of stars and galaxies involves analyzing hydrogen signals. Red and white contours show formaldehyde signals at two different frequencies, combining visible and radio signals. Emission nebulae are part of larger dark dust clouds, which start glowing when new stars form and ignite. The colder, denser areas of these clouds are only visible in radio waves, and Doppler analysis shows the cloud is contracting!

Question 13

Nebular Size

Answer 13

These nebulae are very large and have very low density;
their HUGE size means that their total masses are
large despite the low density.

Question 14

Emission Nebulae

Answer 14

Emission nebulae are star forming regions - “lit” by bright young stars.
Close-up of M20
12 pc across - huge!
Contain newly formed, hot O- or Btype stars that produce lots of UV light
which in turn ionizes the gas.
Dust Lanes
Part of the nebula containing regions of
star-forming activity. Revealed with IR
wavelength observation.

Question 15

Cold, Dark Dust Clouds

Answer 15

Average temperature of dark dust clouds (called absorption nebulae) is a few tens of kelvins.
Note - “empty” space has temperature of ~ 100 K.
A thousand times denser (1000 atoms/cm3) than surrounding space

Question 16

summary

Answer 16

The interstellar medium consists of gas and dust.
Nebula - any region of space that is clearly distinguishable through a telescope
(dark or bright) , but is not sharply defined like a planet or a star. Emission Nebula - glowing cloud of hot interstellar gas - indication of a star forming region.
Dark Dust Cloud (absorption nebula) - dense, cold, interstellar regions of space - difficult to
“see” because blocks light behind it.
Molecular Cloud - cold neutral gas molecules (H2…) - part of huge molecular cloud complexes

Question 17

The reddish color of emission nebulae indicates that:

Answer 17

. hydrogen gas is present.

Question 18

Cosmic Rays

Answer 18

In addition to gas and dust, a third class of particles is found in
interstellar space: cosmic rays
The term “cosmic ray” is
misleading: they are particles
and have nearly the same
composition as ordinary
interstellar gas.
Cosmic rays are mostly high-speed atomic nuclei and electrons.
Speeds equal to 90% of the speed of light are typical.
Almost 90% of the cosmic rays are hydrogen nuclei (protons)
stripped of their accompanying electron.

Question 19

Cosmic Rays

Answer 19

Serious problem in identifying the source of
cosmic rays: light travels in straight lines, while
cosmic rays are charged particles, and their
direction of motion can be changed by
magnetic fields. The paths of cosmic rays are
curved both by magnetic fields in interstellar
space and by Earth’s own field.
The best candidates for a source of cosmic rays are the supernova explosions,
which mark the violent deaths of some stars

Question 20

Interstellar Matter - summary

Answer 20

Study of the stars and galaxies through hydrogen signals.
Red/white contours - formaldehyde
signal at two different frequencies.
overlay of visible
and radio signals
Doppler analysis of signal indicates cloud is contracting! - Stage 1
Molecular hydrogen (H2) - Found in cold
dark dust clouds. Observe via radio signal from
molecular vibrational transitions. This region is
where star formation occurs.
Ionized hydrogen (H*) - gas is found in
Emission nebulae: hot, glowing area associated with
the formation of large stars. Observe via red light
from hydrogen electron atomic energy level
transition.
Atomic Hydrogen (H) - Found in cold regions
without stars between dust clouds. Observe via
radio signal from hydrogen electron “spin-flip”

Question 21

Star Formation

Answer 21

Star formation happens when part of a large dust cloud begins to contract
under its own gravitational force; as it collapses, the center becomes hotter and
hotter until nuclear fusion begins in the core.
When looking at just a few atoms, the gravitational force is nowhere near strong
enough to overcome the random thermal motion.
For cool cloud (~10-100 K), need 10^57 atoms.
This happens when some shock to the cloud compresses it.

Question 22

Star Formation - stage I

Answer 22

Stage 1: Interstellar cloud starts to contract, probably triggered by shock or
pressure wave from nearby star. As it contracts, the cloud fragments into
smaller pieces. Takes a couple million years.
T=10 K, size ~50 ly, 109 p/m3

Question 23

If an interstellar cloud contracts to become a star, it is due to which force?

Answer 23

Gravitational . Nebular contraction -
Cloud of gas and dust
contracts due to gravity
Condensation theory -
Interstellar dust grains help
cool cloud, and act as
condensation nuclei.Star formation happens when part of a dust cloud begins to contract
under its own gravitational force.

Question 24

Star Formation - Stage 2 & 3

Answer 24

Stage 2
Individual cloud fragments begin to collapse.
T~100 K, size ~ 100X our solar system, 1012 p/m3
Once the density is high enough, there is no further fragmentation.
Note - contraction produces energy, but radiation escapes thin cloud.
Stage 3
Spherical gas ball about the size of our solar system.
Density has increased 1018 p/m3. Radiation can not escape anymore.
The interior of the fragment has begun heating, and is about 10,000 K.

Question 25

Orion Nebula

Answer 25

he Orion Nebula is thought to contain interstellar clouds in the process
of condensing, as well as protostars.
Areas of intense radio
emissions (c) & (d)
Blobs about the size of our
solar system
Density =1015 p/m3
million times denser than
surrounding cloud
(e) young stars surrounded by
disk of gas and dust

Question 26

Stage 4 - Protostar

Answer 26

Stage 4: The core of the cloud is now
a protostar, and makes its first
appearance on the H–R diagram.
After ~ 100,000 y in stage 3
core temp T=1,000,000 K
surface temp T~ 3-4000 K
hydrogen gas is ionized (v~100 km/s)
not quite fusion ready, though.
Radius is now 0.4 AU (Mercury’s orbit)
Luminosity due to release of gravitational energy
L~100L⦿

Question 27

Stage 5 - Protostar Evolution

Answer 27

Stage 5: The protostar is still not in equilibrium – outward pressure is becoming a force,
but all heating still comes from the gravitational collapse. Get nebular disk, possibly planets.
Protostar has shrunk to R=10R⦿.
Luminosity is down to L~10L⦿.
Surface T~4000 K
Core Temp ~ 5,000,000 K
T-Tauri Phase - violent surface activity,
extremely strong protostellar winds,
interaction of winds and disk cause
bipolar “jets”, emitting energy
Evolution is slowing down - stage 5 takes ~10,000,000 y

Question 28

Stages 6 & 7 - Star Formation

Answer 28

Stage 6
The core reaches 10 million K, and nuclear fusion begins.
The protostar has become a star.
The star continues to contract and increase in temperature.
R~1,000,000 km, surface T~4500 K, Luminosity is now L~2/3L⦿.
Stage 6 lasts about 30,000,000 y or so.
Stage 7
The star is in equilibrium. Has reached the main sequence and will remain
there as long as it has hydrogen to fuse in its core. (Billions of years.)
Tcore=15,000,000 K, Tsurf=6000 K
S

Question 29

Stages 6 & 7 - Star Formation

Answer 29

The protostar’s luminosity decreases
even as its temperature rises because
it is becoming more compact.
T. luminosity ∝ radius^2 × temperature^4 Total time from cloud to star
~ 50-100 million years.

Question 30

Stars of different masses

Answer 30

This H–R diagram shows the
evolution of stars somewhat more
and somewhat less massive than
the Sun.
The shape of the paths is
similar, but they wind up in
different places on the main
sequence.

Question 31

Objects more massive than the Sun form into stars

Answer 31

. Much faster, over tens of thousands of years.
Explanation:
More mass  faster collapse
More mass  faster start of fusion reactions
More mass  a hotter, more luminous main sequence star

Question 32

brown dwarfs

Answer 32

Minimum mass needed to start fusion
~ 0.08 M⦿ (80 Jupiters)
m(Gliese 229) ~ 50 m(Jupiter)
These “failed
stars” are called
brown dwarfs.
If the mass of the original nebular fragment is too small, nuclear fusion will
never begin.
B

Question 33

star clusters

Answer 33

Because a single interstellar cloud can produce many stars of the same age and composition,
star clusters are an excellent way to study the effect of mass on stellar evolution
NGC 3603
2000 bright stars
6000 pc from Earth
Many small stars less
massive than the Sun.

Question 34

Open Clusters

Answer 34

Open cluster - loose, irregular cluster, found mainly
in the plane of the Milky Way.
Contain few hundred to few thousand stars

Question 35

Globular Clusters

Answer 35

Globular cluster – spherical cluster of stars with the
absence of massive main-sequence stars, and the heavily
populated red giant region. Found away from the galactic
plane. Omega Centauri
largest globular cluster
in the Milky Way
Since blue stars gone - globular clusters are old
- at least 10 billion years.

Question 36

Search and discovery of planets

Answer 36

The transit technique is based on the change in brightness of the star due
to the planet’s transit
When the orbital plane of the planet is
tilted or inclined so that it is viewed edgeon, we will see the planet cross in front of
the star once per orbit, causing the star to
dim slightly; this event is known as transit.
The interval between successive transits is the length of the year
for that planet, which can be used (again using Kepler’s laws) to
find its distance from the star.
Search and discovery of planets
In a transit, the planet’s circular disk
blocks the light of the star’s circular
disk. The area of a circle is πR2. The
amount of light the planet blocks, called
the transit depth, is then given by (R of planet/ R of star)^2 = % of light blocked