With reference to Blue Straggler Stars, consider the following statements: 1. Blue straggler stars are unusually hot, blue and apparently younger-looking stars found in old stellar populations such as globular clusters. 2. They are believed to form through processes such as stellar mergers or mass transfer in binary star systems, allowing them to appear younger than the surrounding stars. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? |ForumIAS

Q. With reference to Blue Straggler Stars, consider the following statements:
1.Blue straggler stars are unusually hot, blue and apparently younger-looking stars found in old stellar populations such as globular clusters.
2.They are believed to form through processes such as stellar mergers or mass transfer in binary star systems, allowing them to appear younger than the surrounding stars.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[A] 1 only

[B] 2 only

[C] Both 1 and 2

[D] Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Notes:

Explanation: Both 1 and 2

Statement 1 is correct: Blue stragglers are stars that appear bluer, hotter and younger than the main-sequence turnoff stars of the old stellar population in which they are found.

Statement 2 is correct: Their unusual properties can arise through mass transfer from a companion or stellar collisions/mergers, giving them additional mass and extending their apparent main-sequence lifetime.

Source: PIB

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