The first stars formed in the universe had __________ compared to the stars formed today.
A) higher metallicity and higher mass
B) higher metallicity and lower mass
C) lower metallicity and higher mass
D) lower metallicity and lower mass
E) higher mass and longer lifetimes

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first stars formed in the universe had lower metallicity and higher mass compared to the stars formed today. This is because the universe was initially made up of mostly hydrogen and helium, with very few heavy elements. As stars formed and died, they produced heavier elements through nuclear fusion, enriching the interstellar medium. Therefore, older stars have lower metallicity, while younger stars have higher metallicity. The first stars formed when the universe was only a few hundred million years old, and they had higher masses because there were no heavier elements to cool the gas and prevent collapse, leading to the formation of massive stars.

The First Stars Formed in the Universe Had __________ Compared