What happens inside of the interstellar medium?
In astronomy, the interstellar medium is the matter and radiation that exist in the space between the star systems in a galaxy. This matter includes gas in ionic, atomic, and molecular form, as well as dust and cosmic rays. It fills interstellar space and blends smoothly into the surrounding intergalactic space.
In which phase of the interstellar medium do stars form?
Star Formation. Stars form inside relatively dense concentrations of interstellar gas and dust known as molecular clouds. These regions are extremely cold (temperature about 10 to 20K, just above absolute zero). At these temperatures, gases become molecular meaning that atoms bind together.
What is the interstellar medium quizlet?
the matter between stars, composed of two components, gas and dust, intermixed throughout all of space.
Is interstellar medium hot or cold?
Most of the interstellar medium is in the form of neutral hydrogen gas (HI). The typical densities of neutral hydrogen in the Galaxy is one atom per cubic centimeter. This gas is cold and the electron is usually in its ground state.
Why is there radiation in interstellar space?
Space radiation is comprised of atoms in which electrons have been stripped away as the atom accelerated in interstellar space to speeds approaching the speed of light – eventually, only the nucleus of the atom remains.
Which statement is true about the interstellar medium?
Cards
| Term Interstellar gas is composed mainly of | Definition 90% hydrogen, 9% helium by weight |
|---|---|
| Term The spectra of interstellar gas clouds show that they have the same basic composition as | Definition stars |
| Term Which statement is true about the interstellar medium? | Definition We know more about the gas than the dust |
•Feb 27, 2012
How does the interstellar medium evolve?
The evolution of the interstellar medium is driven by a number of complex processes which are deeply interwoven, including mass accretion from nearby (dwarf) systems and the intergalactic medium, mass ejection into the halo and interglactic medium, stellar mass injection into the interstellar medium, star formation, …
How can we see through the interstellar medium quizlet?
How can we see through the interstellar medium? are elliptical, with random orientations. The image of our galaxy in radio emission from carbon monoxide maps the distribution of molecular clouds.
How would we determine what this gas in the interstellar medium is made of?
Based on what you have learned about light from previous chapters, how would we determine what this gas in the interstellar medium is made of? From the wavelength of absorption lines in the spectra stars whose light passes through the gas.
How does radiation travel through space?
Unlike conduction and convection, radiation does not need matter to transfer heat. Energy is radiated from the sun, through the vacuum of space at the speed of light. When this energy arrives at Earth, some of it is transferred to the gases in our atmosphere.
What happens to radiation in space?
Beyond Low Earth Orbit, space radiation may place astronauts at significant risk for radiation sickness, and increased lifetime risk for cancer, central nervous system effects, and degenerative diseases.
Can we see through the interstellar medium?
E) We cannot see through the interstellar medium.
How does the interstellar medium affect our view of most of the galaxy?
How does the interstellar medium affect our view of most of the galaxy? It prevents us from seeing most of the galactic disk with visible and ultraviolet light.
How does energy from the sun travel to Earth through radiation through convection through conduction through the movement of particles?
During the day, sunlight heats the ground, which in turn heats the air directly above it via conduction. At night, the ground cools and the heat flows from the warmer air directly above to the cooler ground via conduction.
What is radiation and where does it come from?
The majority of background radiation occurs naturally from minerals and a small fraction comes from man-made elements. Naturally occurring radioactive minerals in the ground, soil, and water produce background radiation. The human body even contains some of these naturally-occurring radioactive minerals.
How should we expect that the interstellar medium of the Milky Way?
How should we expect the Milky Way's interstellar medium to be different in 50 billion years than it is today? a. The total amount of gas will be much greater, since many stars will undergo supernovae between now and then.
How is heat transferred by conduction convection and radiation?
Thermodynamics is the study of heat transfer and the changes related to it. Conduction is nothing but the heat transfer from the hotter part to the colder one. Convection is the heat transfer by up and down motion of the fluid. Radiation occurs when heat travels through empty space.
How does energy from the Sun travel to Earth and what happens to most of the energy that reaches Earth?
Energy is transferred from the sun to Earth via electromagnetic waves, or radiation. Most of the energy that passes through the upper atmosphere and reaches Earth's surface is in two forms, visible and infrared light.
How does radiation take place?
Radiation is energy that travels in the form of waves (electromagnetic radiation) or high-speed particles (particulate radiation). Particulate radiation happens when an unstable (or radioactive) atom disintegrates. Electromagnetic (EM) radiation, on the other hand, has no mass and travels in waves.
How does the interstellar medium affect out view of most of the galaxy?
How does the interstellar medium affect our view of most of the galaxy? It prevents us from seeing most of the galactic disk with visible and ultraviolet light.
How is heat transferred through radiation?
Radiation heat transfer is a process where heat waves are emitted that may be absorbed, reflected, or transmitted through a colder body. Sun heats the earth by electromagnetic waves. Hot bodies emit heat waves.
What is convection process of heat transfer?
Convection. Convective heat transfer is the transfer of heat between two bodies by currents of moving gas or fluid. In free convection, air or water moves away from the heated body as the warm air or water rises and is replaced by a cooler parcel of air or water.
What happens to light as it travels from the core of the sun to the surface?
At core, the energy is released in the form of Gamma Rays. At the core, protons and helium nuclei are so thick that an emitted gamma ray can't get very far before it is absorbed. If you imagine that a gamma ray is emitted right at the center of the sun then it will start out heading right for the surface.
What can radiation travel through?
Gamma rays are a radiation hazard for the entire body. They can easily penetrate barriers that can stop alpha and beta particles, such as skin and clothing. Gamma rays have so much penetrating power that several inches of a dense material like lead, or even a few feet of concrete may be required to stop them.
Does radiation require a medium?
Radiation are electromagnetic waves that travel without any medium, Rest conduction and convection takes place in specific medium.
How does the interstellar medium interact with stars?
How does the interstellar medium interact with stars? The light from stars heats hydrogen in the interstellar medium, to the point where hydrogen molecules undergo fusion during collisions and begin the first stage of star formation.
How can a radiation transfer in an object?
Radiation is the transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves. In addition to the sun, light bulbs, irons, and toasters also transfer heat via radiation. Note that, unlike conduction or convection, heat transfer by radiation does not need any matter to help with the transfer.
How heat transfer occurs through radiation in absence of a medium?
Answer: Radiation is a method of heat transfer that does not rely upon any contact between the heat source and the heated object as is the case with conduction and convection. Heat can be transmitted through empty space by thermal radiation often called infrared radiation. This is a type electromagnetic radiation .
What is heat transfer through conduction?
Conduction heat transfer is the transfer of heat through matter (i.e., solids, liquids, or gases) without bulk motion of the matter. In another ward, conduction is the transfer of energy from the more energetic to less energetic particles of a substance due to interaction between the particles.
What happens to light as it travels?
Light in a vacuum is generally held to travel at an absolute speed, but light traveling through any material can be slowed down. The amount that a material slows down light is called its refractive index. Light bends when coming into contact with particles, which results in a decrease in speed.