/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 34 A spinning, collapsing cloud of ... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

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A spinning, collapsing cloud of gas and dust forms a disk because of the conservation of ______________.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Conservation of angular momentum.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Problem

We need to identify the principle or law that explains why a spinning, collapsing cloud of gas and dust forms a disk. The key term here is "spinning."
02

Recall Relevant Laws

Remember that motion-related problems often involve principles like conservation of energy, momentum, or angular momentum, especially in rotational systems.
03

Identify the Correct Principle

The transformations in the shapes and structures of rotating bodies, such as a cloud of gas forming a disk, due to changes in distribution and velocity, are typically explained by the conservation of angular momentum.
04

Formulate the Answer

Based on the conservation of angular momentum, as the radius of the rotating cloud decreases, its rotational speed increases, causing the cloud to flatten and form a disk.

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Key Concepts

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

Conservation Laws
Conservation laws are fundamental concepts in physics that suggest certain properties of isolated systems remain constant as the system evolves. These principles include conservation of energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum. - Conservation laws are pivotal to understanding the transformation of physical systems. - They allow us to predict the behavior of complex systems, including rotational systems like galaxies or planetary formations. In the context of a spinning cloud of gas and dust, the conservation of angular momentum is crucial. It dictates that as the size of the cloud decreases, its rotation speed must increase if no external torque is applied. This principle explains why the cloud flattens and speeds up into a disk shape.
Rotational Systems
Rotational systems are characterized by objects performing circular or elliptical motion around an axis. These systems can be as simple as a spinning wheel or as complex as a rotating galaxy. - They are profoundly influenced by forces such as torque, which can change an object's rotational speed or direction. In a collapsing cloud of gas and dust, the rotational system is initially vast and diffuse. As the cloud collapses due to its own gravity, its angular momentum remains constant. This conservation causes the cloud's rotation speed to increase to maintain balance, leading to the formation of a flattened disk. The interplay of forces and motion in these systems highlights the fascinating application of physics in celestial formations.
Formation of Disks
The formation of disks in astronomical contexts is a captivating process driven by physical laws. The disks are structures often seen in galaxies, protoplanetary systems, and within our solar system. - As clouds collapse under gravity, they spin faster due to the conservation of angular momentum. - The centripetal force and the rapid rotational motion balance, causing material to spread out along a plane, forming a disk. Disks are efficient configurations for the accumulation and organization of matter. They mark the initial stages in the birth of stars and planets, playing a central role in the evolution of galactic structures. This process demonstrates the efficiency of the universe in organizing celestial objects.
Cloud of Gas and Dust
Clouds of gas and dust, often referred to as nebulae, are regions in space where stars are born. These clouds are composed of hydrogen gas and small particles of dust, containing all the elements needed to form new stars and planets. - They are in constant motion and can span several light-years across. - The gravitational forces act on these clouds causing them to collapse while their rotational characteristic influences their shape. As these clouds collapse, they heat up and begin rotating faster, leading ultimately to the creation of new stars and planetary systems. The resulting disk can evolve over time to form complex structures in space, making these clouds fundamental to understanding cosmic evolution and the lifecycle of stellar objects.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Multiple choice: In most cases, astronomers currently find massive planets around distant stars by (a) looking at the massive planet's Doppler-shifted light as it orbits the star; (b) taking spectra of the star to look for contamination from the light of a massive planet; (c) looking for a periodic Doppler shift in the star's spectrum as a massive planet causes the star to wobble slightly; (d) pointing the Hubble Space Telescope to a spot about 5 to 10 A.U. away from the star, knowing that massive planets can only orbit near that distance; or (e) measuring the Doppler shift of the star, and seeing whether it keeps on increasing with time, as would be expected if a massive planet were pulling on it.

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Does the Doppler-shift (radial-velocity) method for deducing the existence of a planet orbiting a star depend on the star's distance from Earth? (Assume the star's apparent brightness is independent of distance.

If the temperature of a dust ring around a star is \(30 \mathrm{K}\) at what wavelength does its black-body spectrum peak? In what spectral region is this wavelength?

Multiple choice: since \(1995,\) at least 160 extra-solar planets around normal main-sequence stars have been detected with ground-based optical telescopes. Which one of the following statements about these planets is true? (a) All of them are less massive than Jupiter. (b) In some cases, the planet's mass is as small as Earth's mass. (c) The measured masses of the planets are generally only upper limits; that is, their true masses might be smaller. (d) In some cases, they are so close to their parent stars that they complete a full orbit in only a few days. (e) They all have circular or nearly circular orbits.

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