What structural property explains the relatively short lifespan of open clusters compared to globular clusters?
Answer
Being loosely bound by gravity
Open clusters are gravitationally connected but possess a loose configuration where the average separation between member stars is significantly greater than in tight globular clusters. This loose binding means the cluster's internal gravitational cohesion is relatively weak. Because of this lack of strong binding, external gravitational influences, such as passing gas clouds or encounters with other stars in the busy galactic disk, can easily perturb the cluster's orbits, leading to its eventual fragmentation and dissolution over relatively short cosmic timescales.
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