Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 15: Problem 3

The interstellar medium in the Sun's region of the galaxy is closest in composition to a. the Sun. b. Jupiter. c. Earth d. comets in the Oort Cloud.

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. the Sun.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Composition of Each Option

Understand the compositions: The Sun is primarily composed of hydrogen and helium with trace amounts of heavier elements. Jupiter is primarily hydrogen and helium with some other gases. Earth has a solid crust with oxygen, silicon, aluminum, and many other elements. Comets in the Oort Cloud are composed of ices, dust, and some organic compounds.
02

Compare with the Interstellar Medium

The interstellar medium in the Sun's region of the galaxy is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium with traces of heavier elements and dust.
03

Determine the Closest Similarity

Since both the Sun and the interstellar medium are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, they have the most similar compositions.
04

Select the Correct Answer

Based on the comparison, the composition of the interstellar medium in the Sun's region of the galaxy is closest to that of the Sun.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Sun's composition
Understanding the composition of the Sun helps us see why the interstellar medium around it is similar. The Sun is mainly made of hydrogen (approximately 74% by mass) and helium (about 24% by mass). Only a tiny fraction, around 2%, consists of heavier elements like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.
  • Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe and serves as the Sun's primary fuel for fusion.
  • Helium is produced through the fusion of hydrogen atoms in the Sun's core.
  • Other elements, though in small amounts, are crucial for solar processes and the creation of solar phenomena.
This composition reflects why the interstellar medium, which is mostly hydrogen and helium with traces of dust and other elements, closely matches that of the Sun. The abundance of hydrogen and helium in both ensures they have similar features and behavior.
Hydrogen and helium
Hydrogen and helium are two fundamental elements in our universe.
  • **Hydrogen**: The simplest and most abundant element in the universe, symbolized as H. It has one proton and one electron.
  • **Helium**: The second lightest element, symbolized as He. It has two protons, two neutrons, and two electrons.
These elements are essential in astrophysics and cosmology.
In the Sun, hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium in a process known as nuclear fusion, which releases vast amounts of energy.
  • This fusion process is the primary source of the Sun's energy and light.
  • Even in the interstellar medium, the presence of hydrogen and helium plays a crucial role in star formation and the overall dynamics of galaxies.
The prevalence of these two elements in both the Sun and the interstellar medium underscores their importance in celestial bodies and the structure of our galaxy.
Comparison of celestial bodies
Comparing celestial bodies helps to understand their compositions and behaviors.
  • **The Sun**: As already noted, is dominated by hydrogen and helium.
  • **Jupiter**: This gas giant also has a composition similar to the Sun with mostly hydrogen and helium but contains more other gases like methane, ammonia, and water vapor.
  • **Earth**: Unlike the Sun and Jupiter, Earth is a rocky planet with a solid crust. It has a complex composition of oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, and other heavy elements. Water and organic molecules are also significant.
  • **Comets in the Oort Cloud**: These are mainly made of ices (water, methane, ammonia, etc.), dust, and some organic compounds.
By comparing these bodies, we see that the Sun and Jupiter share similarities due to their primary elements, hydrogen and helium. Earth and comets have more complex and varied compositions, reflecting their different origins and roles in the solar system.
The interstellar medium, mainly comprising hydrogen and helium, is thus more similar to the Sun than to the other celestial bodies.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Astronomers understand the process of star formation because a. they have observed star formation as it happens for a small number of stars. b. they have observed star formation as it happens for a large number of stars. c. they have observed many different stars at each step of the process. d. theoretical models predict that this must be the way stars form.

If a typical hydrogen atom in a collapsing molecular-cloud core starts at a distance of \(1.5 \times 10^{12} \mathrm{km}(10,000 \mathrm{AU})\) from the core's center and falls inward at an average velocity of \(1.5 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s},\) how many years does it take to reach the newly forming protostar? Assume that a year is \(3 \times 10^{7}\) seconds.

Explain how 21 -cm radio emission has enabled astronomers to detect interstellar clouds of neutral hydrogen (H I), even when large amounts of interstellar dust are in the way.

Molecular hydrogen is very difficult to detect from the ground, but astronomers can easily detect carbon monoxide (CO) by observing its 2.6 -cm microwave emission. Describe how observations of CO might help astronomers infer the amounts and distribution of molecular hydrogen within giant molecular clouds.

Molecular clouds fragment as they collapse because a. the rotation of the cloud throws some mass to the outer regions. b. the density increases fastest in the center of the cloud. c. density variations from place to place grow larger as the cloud collapses. d. the interstellar wind is stronger in some places than others.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Astrophysics

Read Explanation

Solid State Physics

Read Explanation

Kinematics Physics

Read Explanation

Electrostatics

Read Explanation

Waves Physics

Read Explanation

Physical Quantities And Units

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free