Algol Consist of a 3

question 18

Multiple Choice

Algol consist of a 3.7 MSun main-sequence star and a 0.8 MSun subgiant. Why does this seem surprising, at least at first?

• A) The two stars should be the same age, so we'd expect the subgiant to be more massive than the main-sequence star.
• B) The two stars in a binary system should both be at the same stage of life; that is, they should either both be main sequence stars or both be subgiants.
• C) It doesn't make sense to find a subgiant in a binary star system.
• D) A star with a mass of 3.7 M Sᵤn is too big to be a main sequence star.

---

Definitions:

Overall Worth

The total value or importance of something, often considering all its aspects or components.

Scattergram

A graphical representation of data points to show the correlation between two variables or the distribution of a dataset.

Point System

A method of evaluation or assessment where points are assigned based on specific criteria, often used in contexts like immigration, scoring in competitions, or evaluating performance.

Rate Ranges

The spectrum of pay rates from minimum to maximum that are established for different pay grades or job classifications within an organization.