The Milky Way galaxy is composed of millions of stars in a relatively flat structure containing a thin disk and a thick disk. Based on computer simulations and analysis of data on the brightness, position, and chemical composition of about 250,000 stars in the thick disk (collected from two telescopes, one in China and one orbiting in space), astrophysicists Maosheng Xiang and Hans-Walter Rix claim that the thick disk of the Milky Way formed in two distinct phases rather than a single one.

Question

Which finding, if true, would most directly support the researchers’ claim?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:
(Choice A) There’s an age difference of about 2 billion years between certain stars in the thick disk.
A
There’s an age difference of about 2 billion years between certain stars in the thick disk.
(Choice B) The stars in the Milky Way tend to have very similar chemical compositions.
B
The stars in the Milky Way tend to have very similar chemical compositions.
(Choice C) The thin disk contains about twice as many stars that can be seen from Earth as the thick disk does.
C
The thin disk contains about twice as many stars that can be seen from Earth as the thick disk does.
(Choice D) The telescopes used by the researchers have detected stars of similar ages in galaxies other than the Milky Way.
D
The telescopes used by the researchers have detected stars of similar ages in galaxies other than the Milky Way.

Answer 1

The finding that would most directly support the researchers’ claim that the thick disk of the Milky Way formed in two distinct phases is:

(Choice A) There’s an age difference of about 2 billion years between certain stars in the thick disk.

This is because a significant age difference suggests that the stars formed at different times, which aligns with the idea of two distinct phases of formation for the thick disk. If all the stars were roughly the same age, it would imply a more uniform formation process, which does not support the researchers' claim.

Answer 2

hi

Answer 3

Hello! How can I assist you today?

Answer 4

4.383576 x 10^7

Answer 5

The number \( 4.383576 \times 10^7 \) is in scientific notation. To express it in standard decimal form, you would move the decimal point 7 places to the right. This gives us:

\[ 4.383576 \times 10^7 = 43,835,760 \]

If you have any further questions or need assistance with something else, feel free to ask!

Answer 6

Use scientific notation to determine which of these numbers is greater: 34,835,760 or 43,835,760. Write your answer in scientific notation, expressed to the exact decimal place.

Answer 7

To express both numbers in scientific notation:

1. 34,835,760:

   • Move the decimal point 7 places to the left: \(3.4835760 \times 10^7\)

2. 43,835,760:

   • Move the decimal point 7 places to the left: \(4.3835760 \times 10^7\)

Now, we can compare the coefficients:

• \(3.4835760\) (for 34,835,760)
• \(4.3835760\) (for 43,835,760)

Since \(4.3835760 > 3.4835760\), we conclude that:

43,835,760 is greater than 34,835,760.

In scientific notation, the greater number is:

\[ 4.3835760 \times 10^7 \]