Astronomy quiz question: globular cluster age

Astronomy 10 Quiz 11, Spring Semester 2008
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Astronomy 10 learning goal Q11.5

[3.0 points.] Which one of the following statements best supports the theory that globular cluster stars in the halo of the Milky Way must be older than stars in the disk?
(A) Globular cluster stars are more abundant.
(B) Globular cluster stars are more luminous.
(C) Globular cluster stars are metal-rich.
(D) Globular clusters do not contain massive main sequence stars.
(E) Globular clusters do not contain dark matter.

Correct answer: (D)

Massive stars have much shorter main sequence lives than medium mass and low mass stars, thus globular clusters, being older, do not have massive main sequence stars. Note that responses (B) and (C) would correspond to very young stars.

Student responses
Section 4160
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 12 students
(D) : 16 students
(E) : 1 student