What Leads Astronomers to Conclude That the Proto-Galactic Cloud (The

question 2

Multiple Choice

What leads astronomers to conclude that the proto-galactic cloud (the cloud from which our Galaxy formed) was roughly spherical?

• A) all black holes have spherical event horizons
• B) the shape of the disk and spiral arm of the Milky Way Galaxy is spherical, so the original cloud must have been too
• C) the oldest stars in the Galaxy (Population II stars, globular clusters) form a spherical halo around the Galaxy; they outline the original shape of the cloud that gave the Galaxy birth
• D) since the Big Bang that made everything was spherical, all structures in the universe must also be spherical
• E) actually, astronomers believe the original proto-galactic cloud was in the shape of a flat disk, like the Galaxy is now

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Definitions:

Edward Sapir

An American anthropologist-linguist, well known for his research on Native American languages and for the development of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis regarding linguistic relativity.

Benjamin Whorf

An American linguist known for his hypothesis that the structure of a language influences the cognitive process of its speakers, a concept known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.

Hopi

A Native American tribe primarily living in northeastern Arizona, known for their pueblo-style villages and rich cultural traditions.

Material Culture

The physical objects, resources, and spaces that people use to define their culture, including buildings, artifacts, tools, and artwork.