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Chapter 19: Problem 21

What is the difference between Population I and Population II stars? In what sense can the stars of one population be regarded as the "children" of the other population?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Population I stars are younger, rich in metals and found in spiral galaxies, while Population II stars are older, less rich in metals and are located in globular clusters. Population I stars can be considered 'children' of Population II stars because they formed from the remnants of these older stars.

Step by step solution

01

Define Population I Stars

Population I stars are relatively young stars with high metallicity. They are found in the disk and arms of spiral galaxies. These stars include the Sun and most of the observable stars in the Milky Way galaxy. They contain a higher amount of heavy elements compared to Population II stars because they formed from the remnants of previous stars that have undergone supernova.
02

Define Population II Stars

Population II stars, on the other hand, are older stars with low metallicity found in globular clusters and the halo of spiral galaxies. They are the first generation of stars, composed mostly of hydrogen and helium, formed after the Big Bang and contain very few heavy elements.
03

Explain the Relationship Between Population I and II Stars

Population II stars were the first to form after the Big Bang, while Population I stars formed later. The heavy elements found in Population I stars are from Population II stars which have gone supernova. Thus, Population I stars can be regarded as the 'children' of Population II stars, since they formed from the remnants of these older stars.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The earliest fossil records indicate that life appeared on the Earth about a billion years after the formation of the solar system. What is the most mass that a star could have in order that its lifetime on the main sequence is long enough to permit life to form on one or more of its planets? Assume that the evolutionary processes would be similar to those that occurred on the Earth.

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