Explanations 
Textbooks 
Exams 
GCSE 
IGCSE 
AS 
A Level 
International A Level 
University Admissions Tests 
Flashcards 
Vaia AI 
Notes 
Study Plans 
Study Sets 
Find a job 
Find a degree 
Student Deals 
Magazine 
Mobile App Chapter 21: Problem 12
T/F: A globular cluster spends most of its time in the galaxy's halo.
Short Answer
Expert verified
True
Step by step solution
01
Understand Globular Clusters
Globular clusters are dense groups of ancient stars that orbit around the center of galaxies. These clusters are typically very old and contain hundreds of thousands of stars.
02
Identify Location
Globular clusters are predominantly found in the halo of a galaxy rather than in the disk or the bulge. The halo is a spherical region that extends beyond the main visible components of the galaxy.
03
Determine Typical Time Spent
Since globular clusters are located in the galaxy's halo, they spend most of their time in this region.
04
Conclusion
Given that globular clusters are predominantly found and spend most of their time in the halo, the statement that 'A globular cluster spends most of its time in the galaxy's halo' is true.
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.
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.
Galaxy Structure
Galaxies are massive systems that consist of stars, star clusters, gas, dust, and dark matter, all bound together by gravity.
Understanding the structure of a galaxy is crucial for studying the universe.
Most galaxies have three primary parts:
Understanding the structure of a galaxy is crucial for studying the universe.
Most galaxies have three primary parts:
- The Disk: This is the flat, rotating part where most of the galaxy's stars, dust, and gas are located. In spiral galaxies, this is where you see the iconic spiral arms.
- The Bulge: Found at the center of the galaxy, the bulge is a dense collection of stars. It is spherical in shape and often contains older stars.
- The Halo: This spherical region surrounds the entire galaxy and extends far beyond its visible parts. The halo contains a sparse population of stars and globular clusters, as well as dark matter.
Stellar Populations
Stellar populations are groups of stars that share common properties. Scientists categorize stars into different populations based on their age, chemical composition, and location.
There are two primary types of stellar populations:
There are two primary types of stellar populations:
- Population I: These stars are younger, richer in heavy elements (metals), and typically found in the disk of the galaxy. They include stars like our Sun, which are often aligned with the galaxy's spiral arms.
- Population II: These are older stars, with fewer heavy elements. They are commonly found in the halo and bulge of galaxies. Globular clusters mainly consist of these older Population II stars.
Halo of a Galaxy
The halo is an extended spherical component that surrounds the main sections of a galaxy. It plays an important role in the overall structure and mass of the galaxy.
The halo has some distinctive features:
The halo has some distinctive features:
- Old Stars: Most stars in the halo are ancient, often part of globular clusters.
- Sparse Star Distribution: Stars are distributed more sparsely in the halo compared to the dense disk and bulge.
- Dark Matter: The halo is believed to be rich in dark matter, which greatly contributes to the galaxy's total mass.
- Extended Reach: The halo extends far beyond the luminous parts of the galaxy, sometimes even twice the size of the visible galaxy.
Globular Star Clusters
Globular clusters are dense collections of ancient stars that orbit the galactic core. They are fascinating for several reasons:
- Age: Globular clusters are among the oldest objects in the universe, often more than 10 billion years old.
- Composition: These clusters contain hundreds of thousands of stars. Due to their age, most of these stars are Population II, meaning they have a low metal content.
- Location: Globular clusters mainly reside in the halo of galaxies, although some can be found in the galactic bulge.
- Stability: Their tightly packed nature makes them very stable and relatively unchanged over time.
