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Lab 6

The document discusses determining properties of stars such as luminosity, absolute magnitude, temperature, spectral type, and radius by placing them on an H-R diagram. It requires knowing either the star's absolute magnitude or luminosity and either its spectral type or temperature. The spectral type is determined by the star's atmosphere and surface temperature, which determine absorption lines. Blackbody spectrum peak wavelength indicates surface temperature. Distance to nearby stars can be found through parallax measurements.

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Hunter Gross
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77 views

Lab 6

The document discusses determining properties of stars such as luminosity, absolute magnitude, temperature, spectral type, and radius by placing them on an H-R diagram. It requires knowing either the star's absolute magnitude or luminosity and either its spectral type or temperature. The spectral type is determined by the star's atmosphere and surface temperature, which determine absorption lines. Blackbody spectrum peak wavelength indicates surface temperature. Distance to nearby stars can be found through parallax measurements.

Uploaded by

Hunter Gross
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: Hunter Gross

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Determining the Properties of Stars


Introduction to Astronomy

In order to measure the properties of stars, such as luminosity, absolute magnitude, temperature,
spectral type, and radius, Astronomers first place a star on an H-R Diagram. One must know either
the star’s absolute magnitude or luminosity and either the star’s spectral type or temperature to
place the star on the H-R Diagram.

1. How is the spectral type of a star determined? (Hint: think spectroscopy)

The spectral type of a star is determined by the star’s atmosphere pressure and the stars surface
temperature. The temperature determines which absorption lines are present and then astronomers
use these to determine which spectral class they fall under.

2. How could the black body portion of a star’s spectrum be used to determine its surface
temperature?

The black body spectrum shows different wavelengths of light or the relative abundance of different
colors of photons. The peak wavelength tells us the surface temperature of a star. The shorter the
peak, the higher the temperature.

3. If we know the distance to a star, and its apparent magnitude, mv, we can determine its
absolute magnitude, Mv. How is the distance to a star (less than about 200 pc away)
determined? (If it is greater than 200 pc we can use “standard candles” such as Cepheid or
RR Lyrae variable stars).

As time goes on astronomers measure the change in the stars position over a year span. They then
can use this information and put it into a geometry equation to determine the distance.
e
Using the HR diagram on the previous page, answer the following questions. You
may choose to label more stars to answer your questions.

4. What are the spectral type, temperature, absolute magnitude, radius, and luminosity of
Star a?

Spectral Type:
B
Temperature:
18,000
Absolute magnitude:
0
Radius:
10^2
Luminosity:
1R
5. Which two pairs of labeled stars have the same temperature?

C and B have the same temperature.

6. Do stars of the same temperature have the same spectral type? Use a pairs of stars from
your answer to question 5 to support your answer.

Yes, both c and b fall under spectral type B.

7. Do stars with the same temperature have the same radius? Use a pair of stars from your
answer to question 5 to support your answer.

No c and b have dramatically different radiuses.

8. Which two pairs of stars have the same luminosity?

B and A have the same luminosity.

9. Do stars with the same luminosity have the same absolute magnitude? Use a pair of stars
from your answer to question 8 to support your answer.
No B and A have different absolute magnitude.

10. Do stars with the same luminosity have the same radius? Use a pair of stars from your
answer to question 8 to support your answer.

No B and A have different radiuses.

11. If two stars have the same absolute magnitude, do they necessarily have the same
temperature? Use a pair of stars on the H-R diagram on the previous page to support your
answer.

No, D and E have the same absolute magnitude but have different temperatures.

12. Do stars with the same radius have the same spectral type? The same temperature? Use a
pair of stars on the H-R diagram on the previous page to support your answer.

No, D is in type F and E is in type M.


Answer the following generalization questions.
13. Stars of the same spectral type have the same (circle one):

absolute magnitude temperature luminosity radius

14. Stars of the same absolute magnitude have the same (circle one):

spectral type temperature luminosity radius

15. Do stars with the same radius have the same

absolute magnitude?
yes

temperature?
no

luminosity?
no

spectral type?
No
16. For each of the following star descriptions, state whether the star would be a red giant,
white dwarf, or main sequence star, and provide the letter(s) of a star from the H-R diagram
that fits each description.

a) very bright (high luminosity) and very hot (high temperature)


main sequence, b

b) very dim (low luminosity) and cool (low temperature)


main sequence, f

c) very dim and very hot


white dwarf, c

d) very bright and cool


red giant, e

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