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 18, Problem 36Q
To determine
The reason for late discovery of giant molecular clouds though they are among the largest objects in thegalaxy.
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A two-arm spiral density wave is moving through the Galactic
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Chapter 18 Solutions
Universe: Stars And Galaxies
Ch. 18 - Prob. 1QCh. 18 - Prob. 2QCh. 18 - Prob. 3QCh. 18 - Prob. 4QCh. 18 - Prob. 5QCh. 18 - Prob. 6QCh. 18 - Prob. 7QCh. 18 - Prob. 8QCh. 18 - Prob. 9QCh. 18 - Prob. 10Q
Ch. 18 - Prob. 11QCh. 18 - Prob. 12QCh. 18 - Prob. 13QCh. 18 - Prob. 14QCh. 18 - Prob. 15QCh. 18 - Prob. 16QCh. 18 - Prob. 17QCh. 18 - Prob. 18QCh. 18 - Prob. 19QCh. 18 - Prob. 20QCh. 18 - Prob. 21QCh. 18 - Prob. 22QCh. 18 - Prob. 23QCh. 18 - Prob. 24QCh. 18 - Prob. 25QCh. 18 - Prob. 26QCh. 18 - Prob. 27QCh. 18 - Prob. 28QCh. 18 - Prob. 29QCh. 18 - Prob. 30QCh. 18 - Prob. 31QCh. 18 - Prob. 32QCh. 18 - Prob. 33QCh. 18 - Prob. 34QCh. 18 - Prob. 35QCh. 18 - Prob. 36QCh. 18 - Prob. 37QCh. 18 - Prob. 38QCh. 18 - Prob. 39QCh. 18 - Prob. 40QCh. 18 - Prob. 41QCh. 18 - Prob. 42QCh. 18 - Prob. 43QCh. 18 - Prob. 44QCh. 18 - Prob. 45QCh. 18 - Prob. 46QCh. 18 - Prob. 47QCh. 18 - Prob. 48QCh. 18 - Prob. 49Q
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- Describe the characteristics of the various kinds of interstellar gas (HII regions, neutral hydrogen clouds, ultra-hot gas clouds, and molecular clouds).arrow_forwardHow does the presence of an active galactic nucleus in a starburst galaxy affect the starburst process?arrow_forwardPictures of various planetary nebulae show a variety of shapes, but astronomers believe a majority of planetary nebulae have the same basic shape. How can this paradox be explained?arrow_forward
- Why does star formation occur primarily in the disk of the Galaxy?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_forwardWhy do molecules, including H2 and more complex organic molecules, only form inside dark clouds? Why don’t they fill all interstellar space?arrow_forward
- A 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_forwardHow would the density inside a cold cloud (T=10K) compare with the density of the ultra-hot interstellar gas (T=106K) if they were in pressure equilibrium? (It takes a large cloud to be able to shield its interior from heating so that it can be at such a low temperature.) (Hint: In pressure equilibrium, the two regions must have nT equal, where n is the number of particles per unit volume and T is the temperature.) Which region do you think is more suitable for the creation of new stars? Why?arrow_forwardUsing the same techniques as used in Exercise 19.32, how far away can Gaia be used to measure distances with an uncertainty of 10%? What fraction of the Galactic disk does this correspond to?arrow_forward
- If the Sun were a member of the cluster NGC 2264, would it be on the main sequence yet? Why or why not?arrow_forwardWhy do nebulae near hot stars look red? Why do dust clouds near stars usually look blue?arrow_forwardAt the low temperature found in some interstellar molecular clouds (around 100 K), molecular oxygen emission is strongest at a wavelength of 0.2521 cm. Determine the speed (in km/s) of a low temperature molecular cloud containing molecular oxygen if its strongest emission is at a wavelength of 0.1885 cm. Note that this cloud is moving towards us, so the answer should be negative.arrow_forward
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