1st Edition

ISBN: 9781938168284

Author: Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff

Publisher: OpenStax

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Red Shift

It is an astronomical phenomenon. In this phenomenon, increase in wavelength with corresponding decrease in photon energy and frequency of radiation of light. It is the displacement of spectrum of any kind of astronomical object to the longer wavelengths…

Textbook Question

Chapter 20, Problem 33E

Suppose that you gathered a ball of interstellar gas that was equal to the size of Earth (a radius of about 6000 km). If this gas has a density of 1 hydrogen atom per cm³, typical of the interstellar medium, how would its mass compare to the mass of a bowling ball (5 or 6 kg)? How about if it had the typical density of the Local Bubble, about 0.01 atoms per cm³? The volume of a sphere is V = ( 4 / 3 ) π R 3 .

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Chapter 20, Problem 32E

Chapter 20, Problem 34E

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Suppose you gathered a ball of interstellar gas that wasequal to the size of the Earth (a radius of about 6400 km). Ifthis gas has a density of 2.8 hydrogen atoms per cm3, typicalof the interstellar medium, what would its total mass be? (For comparison, a bowling ball has a mass of about 5 kg)(HINT: 2.8 hydrogen atoms per cm3corresponds to a densityof 4.68 × 10−21 kg/m3)

Based on what you know about observations of the interstellar medium at wavelengths other than for visible light, select all of the correct statements from the following list. -The 21-cm radio observations are of neutral hydrogen. -Much interstellar dust between stars is not visible. -The source of hot gas observed at X-ray wavelengths is not known. -All interstellar material is cool. -Interstellar dust is observed at ultraviolet wavelengths. -Giant molecular clouds consist mostly of CO molecules. -Material observed at wavelengths longer than that of visible light is usually cool.

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 20 Solutions

Astronomy

Ch. 20 - Identify several dark nebulae in photographs in...Ch. 20 - Why do nebulae near hot stars look red? Why do...Ch. 20 - Describe the characteristics of the various kinds...Ch. 20 - Prepare a table listing the different ways in...Ch. 20 - Describe how the 21-cm line of hydrogen is formed....Ch. 20 - Describe the properties of the dust grains found...Ch. 20 - Why is it difficult to determine where cosmic rays...Ch. 20 - What causes reddening of starlight? Explain how...Ch. 20 - Why do molecules, including H2 and more complex...Ch. 20 - Why can’t we use visible light telescopes to study...

Ch. 20 - The mass of the interstellar medium is determined...Ch. 20 - Where does interstellar dust come from? How does...Ch. 20 - Figure 20.2 shows a reddish glow around the star...Ch. 20 - If the red glow around Antares is indeed produced...Ch. 20 - Even though neutral hydrogen is the most abundant...Ch. 20 - The terms H II and H2 are both pronounced “H two.”...Ch. 20 - Suppose someone told you that she had discovered H...Ch. 20 - Describe the spectrum of each of the following: A....Ch. 20 - According to the text, a star must be hotter than...Ch. 20 - From the comments in the text about which kinds of...Ch. 20 - One way to calculate the size and shape of the...Ch. 20 - New stars form in regions where the density of gas...Ch. 20 - Thinking about the topics in this chapter, here is...Ch. 20 - Stars form in the Milky Way at a rate of about 1...Ch. 20 - The 21-cm line can be used not just to find out...Ch. 20 - Astronomers recently detected light emitted by a...Ch. 20 - We can detect 21-cm emission from other galaxies...Ch. 20 - We have said repeatedly that blue light undergoes...Ch. 20 - Suppose that, instead of being inside the Local...Ch. 20 - Suppose that, instead of being inside the Local...Ch. 20 - A molecular cloud is about 1000 times denser than...Ch. 20 - Would you expect to be able to detect an H II...Ch. 20 - Suppose that you gathered a ball of interstellar...Ch. 20 - At the average density of the interstellar medium,...Ch. 20 - Consider a grain of sand that contains 1 mg of...Ch. 20 - H II regions can exist only if there is a nearby...Ch. 20 - In the text, we said that the five-times ionized...Ch. 20 - Dust was originally discovered because the stars...Ch. 20 - How would the density inside a cold cloud (T=10K)...Ch. 20 - The text says that the Local Fluff, which...

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