A large mass-to-light ratio for a galaxy indicates that
A)the galaxy is very massive.
B)the galaxy is not very massive.
C)on average,each solar mass of matter in the galaxy emits less light than our Sun.
D)on average,each solar mass of matter in the galaxy emits more light than our Sun.
E)most stars in the galaxy are more massive than our Sun.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A high mass-to-light ratio indicates that there is a large amount of matter (mass) in the galaxy relative to the amount of light being emitted. This suggests that on average, each solar mass of matter in the galaxy emits less light than our Sun, making option C the correct choice. Options A, B, and E can be eliminated because the mass-to-light ratio alone does not provide information about the overall mass of the galaxy or the size/mass of individual stars within the galaxy. Option D is also incorrect because a high mass-to-light ratio means that there is less light emitted per unit mass, not more.

A Large Mass-To-Light Ratio for a Galaxy Indicates That