Which of the following statements is probably true about the very first stars in the universe?

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: February 3, 2024

Question:  Which of the following statements is probably true about the very first stars in the universe?

A    They were made only from hydrogen and helium

B     H2   

C    More massive than a hundred times the Sun

D   None of these

Answer:  They were made only from hydrogen and helium

 

AspectDescription
CompositionPrimarily composed of hydrogen and helium with trace amounts of lithium and beryllium.
FormationBelieved to have formed around 100-200 million years after the Big Bang
MassEstimated to be very massive, possibly tens to hundreds of times the mass of the Sun.
MetallicityVirtually zero metallicity
Energy GenerationPowered by nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium in their cores, like modern stars.
LifespanShort-lived, with lifetimes on the order of a few million years due to their high mass and energy output.
Impact on the UniverseThe first stars played a crucial role in reionizing the universe and are thought to be responsible for the initial ionization of intergalactic hydrogen.