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
Aspect | Description |
Composition | Primarily composed of hydrogen and helium with trace amounts of lithium and beryllium. |
Formation | Believed to have formed around 100-200 million years after the Big Bang |
Mass | Estimated to be very massive, possibly tens to hundreds of times the mass of the Sun. |
Metallicity | Virtually zero metallicity |
Energy Generation | Powered by nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium in their cores, like modern stars. |
Lifespan | Short-lived, with lifetimes on the order of a few million years due to their high mass and energy output. |
Impact on the Universe | The first stars played a crucial role in reionizing the universe and are thought to be responsible for the initial ionization of intergalactic hydrogen. |