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If an interstellar cloud is massive enough that the gas pressure is insufficient to support it, the cloud will undergo gravitational collapse. The mass above which a cloud will undergo such collapse is called the Jeans mass. The Jeans mass depends on the temperature and density of the cloud, but is typically thousands to tens of thousands of solar masses. In so-called triggered star formation, one of several events might occur to compress a molecular cloud and initiate its gravitational collapse. Molecular clouds may collide with each other, or a nearby supernova explosion can be a trigger, sending shocked matter into the cloud at very high speeds. Finally, galactic collisions can trigger massive starbursts of star formation as the gas clouds in each galaxy are compressed and agitated by tidal forces.

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How is star formation related to spiral arms?

As interstellar clouds approach the spiral arm region it helps them to begin the collapsing process and eventually form a star.


What are spiral density waves responsible for?

They initiate new star formation. Therefore they are responsible for the formation of new stars.


What does two theories explain how the spiral arms are maintained?

Two primary theories explain how the spiral arms of galaxies are maintained: the density wave theory and the self-propagating star formation theory. The density wave theory posits that spiral arms are not made up of material but are instead regions of higher density that rotate around the galaxy, causing stars and gas to cluster and create the appearance of arms. The self-propagating star formation theory suggests that star formation occurs in waves, where the formation of new stars triggers further star formation in adjacent areas, leading to the development of spiral patterns over time. Both theories highlight the dynamic processes that contribute to the structure of spiral galaxies.


What galaxies are smaller with many bright young stars and lots of gas and dust for star formation?

Spiral Galaxies


Can a shock wave disrupt an interstellar cloud from creating a star?

On the contrary, shock waves from supernovae can actually trigger star formation.


A flattened combination of matter containing stars gas and dust in a spiral galaxy can be identified as what?

A flattened combination of matter containing stars, gas, and dust in a spiral galaxy is identified as the galaxy's disk. This disk is where most of the galaxy's star formation occurs and contains the majority of its stars and interstellar material. The spiral arms within the disk are regions of higher density that enhance star formation.


What may density waves explain?

Density waves can explain the formation of spiral arms in galaxies, as the regions of higher density lead to increased gravitational forces that can trigger star formation. Additionally, density waves can also affect the movement and distribution of interstellar gas and dust within galaxies, influencing the overall structure and evolution of the galactic disk.


What are similarities between elliptical and spiral galaxies?

While spiral galaxies are bright, elliptical galaxies are dim. Spiral galaxies are hotbeds of star formation, but elliptical galaxies aren't nearly as prolific because they contain less gas and dust, which means fewer new (and brighter) stars are born


What happens to interstellar gas as it passes through a spiral density wave?

As interstellar gas passes through a spiral density wave in a galaxy, it is compressed and triggers the formation of new stars. The increased density and pressure can also lead to the formation of massive star clusters or even the triggering of starburst events in galaxies.


Why does star formation require a triggering event?

Star formation requires a triggering event because the gas and dust in space need a disturbance, such as a shockwave or gravitational collapse, to overcome their natural tendency to remain diffuse and form into dense clumps that can eventually collapse and form stars.


Where would you find the brightest part of a galaxy?

Most of the times, the brightest part of the galaxy is at the ceentre due the higher density of stars .Also if the galaxy is a spiral then the brightest part of the galaxy are the spiral arms because they are the star formation areas in the galaxy


A galaxy with a bulge at its center and spiral arms?

This type of galaxy is categorized as a spiral galaxy. The bulge at the center contains older stars, while the spiral arms consist of younger stars and gas and dust regions where new star formation occurs. The Milky Way is an example of a galaxy with a bulge and spiral arms.