Question

Looking for assistance on the problem. I have come to a few answers but would like a second opinion. Thanks!

In interstellar space there are clouds of cold gas (at about 20 K) called dark nebula because they block the light from stars behind them from reaching Earth. A typical diameter fro a dark nebula is about 20 light years and has a density of monatomic hydrogen of 50 hydrogen atoms per cubic centimeter. a.) Estimate the mean free path of a hydrogen atom in the dark nebula, assuming b.) Calculate the root mean square speed of a hydrogen atom and the average c.) Calculate the pressure inside the nebula. the radius of a hydrogen atom is 5.0x10-11 m. time between collisions between hydrogen atoms in the nebula. d.) Assuming the nebula is a spherical cloud, compare the root mean square velocity of a hydrogen molecule to the escape speed of a hydrogen molecule from the surface of the cloud. e.) The stability of a dark nebula is maintained because it is embedded in a thinner gas that permeates interstellar space called the Interstellar medium (ISM for short). Show that in order for the dark nebula and the ISM to be in equilibrium, the following condition must hold. f.) In the region of the Sun, called the local bubble, the ISM contains 1 hydrogen atom per 200 cm of space. Calculate the temperature of the ISM in the local bubble and compare it to the surface temperature of the Sun (5800 K). The Voyager spacecraft is now cruising through the ISM of the local bubble, why doesn't it burn up?

Answer 1

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