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hw4 phys1650

This document outlines Assignment 4 for PHYS1650, focusing on the nature of the universe, with questions covering topics such as the H-R diagram, Cepheid variables, hydrogen burning in stars, properties of brown dwarfs, luminosity calculations, supernova types, forces preventing stellar collapse, escape velocity, black hole mass estimations, and estimating the age of the universe using Hubble's constant. Each question is assigned a value of 10 marks and requires detailed explanations and calculations. The assignment is due on November 30, 2022, and submissions are to be made via Moodle.

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13 views

hw4 phys1650

This document outlines Assignment 4 for PHYS1650, focusing on the nature of the universe, with questions covering topics such as the H-R diagram, Cepheid variables, hydrogen burning in stars, properties of brown dwarfs, luminosity calculations, supernova types, forces preventing stellar collapse, escape velocity, black hole mass estimations, and estimating the age of the universe using Hubble's constant. Each question is assigned a value of 10 marks and requires detailed explanations and calculations. The assignment is due on November 30, 2022, and submissions are to be made via Moodle.

Uploaded by

docharmthings
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHYS1650 - Nature of the Universe

Assignment 4
Due date: 5:00pm, November 30, 2022
Submit to Moodle.

Give answers and explanations for the following questions.

1. (10 marks) What is the advantage of studying the H-R diagram of a


star cluster, compare to that of stars in the general field?

2. (10 marks) The calibrated period-luminosity relation of Cepheid vari-


ables is given by
M = −2.81 log10 P − 1.43 , (1)
where M is the average absolute magnitude and P is the pulsation
period in units of days. One Cepheid variable in a distant galaxy is
observed to have a period of 15.8 days and average visual magnitude
25.5. Estimate the distance of the galaxy in terms of parsec.

3. (10 marks) (a) Explain why hydrogen burning usually only takes place
in the core of the star, instead of the outer layers.
(b) Explain briefly why a star burns hydrogen first, instead of helium.

4. (10 marks) (a) Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) is a space


telescope launched in late 2009. One of its main targets are brown
dwarfs. Explain what physical property makes brown dwarfs to be
best observed in infrared?
(b) What position on the H-R diagram do you expect a brown dwarf
to be found? Why?

5. (10 marks) Physicists can use the so-called Stefan-Boltzmann law to


estimate the luminosity L of a star:

L = fT4 A , (2)

where A is the surface area and f = 5.678 × 10−8 J/(sm2 K4 ).


(a) Our Sun’s surface temperature is about 6000K and its radius is
about 700,000 km. What is its total luminosity and luminosity per
unit area?
(b) Red giant’s surface temperature is about 3000K and its radius is
approximately equal to the earth’s orbit. When our Sun become a red
giant, what will be its total luminosity and luminosity per unit area?
Compare with that of the present day Sun.
(c) White dwarf’s surface temperature is about 10000K and its radius
is approximately equal to that of the earth. When our Sun become a
white dwarf, what will be its total luminosity and luminosity per unit
area? Compare them with that of the present day Sun.
6. (10 marks) What are the basic differences between a nova, a Type Ia
and a Type II supernovae?

7. (10 marks) For the following stars or objects, please state the kinds of
forces or energy sources that prevent its collapse by gravity: (i) main
sequence star; (ii) white dwarf; (iii) red giant; (iv) neutron star.

8. (10 marks) (a) Given that the formula for the escape velocity is
s
2GM
(3)
R
where M and R are the mass and radius of the object, what is the
escape velocity on the surface of the Moon, the Earth and the Sun?
(Students should look up the required data.)
(b) Assume that its mass does not change, how will the escape velocity
of the Sun change if it becomes (i) a red giant (ii) a white dwarf? (An
order of magnitude estimate is enough.)

9. (10 marks) (a) What is the mass of a black hole with the size same as
Hong Kong island? An order of magnitude estimation is enough.
(b) What is the mass of a black hole with the size same as the Earth?
Give answers in units of kilograms and solar mass.

10. (10 marks) Let’s take the Hubble’s constant as 60km/s/Mpc. How can
we roughly estimate the age of the universe from the Hubble’s constant?

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