Solved:
Answered by AI, Verified by Human Experts
why do star clusters make superbubbles? What happens to those bubbles when they grow thicker than the galactic disk
why do star clusters make superbubbles? What happens to those bubbles when they grow thicker than the galactic disk
Final answer:Star clusters contribute to the formation of superbubbles, which, when larger than the galactic disk, can create the thick disk through collisions and stirring of the galaxy's structure.Explanation:Star clusters form superbubbles due to the immense gravitational forces that fragment the gas in the thin disk into clouds, eventually forming stars. These stars, especially when they reach the end of their lifecycle, can explode as supernovae, injecting energy into the surrounding medium and creating bubbles. If the superbubbles grow larger than the galactic disk, they can contribute to the formation of the thick disk by stirring up the orbits of stars and gas clouds, causing them to move higher above and below the plane of the Galaxy.The Galaxy's thick disk may be the result of such collisions with other galaxies, which would disrupt and fluff up the galaxy's structure, leading to a mixed environment of stars and gas. After the collision, the gas that had not formed into stars would settle back into the thin disk, generating a new population of stars. As these processes unfold over billions of years, they shape the large-scale structure of our Galaxy, including its thin and thick disks, as well as the stellar halo....