Astronomy
1st Edition
ISBN: 9781938168284
Author: Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher: OpenStax
expand_more
expand_more
format_list_bulleted
Concept explainers
Textbook Question
Chapter 18, Problem 40E
We can estimate the masses of most of the stars in Appendix J from the mass-luminosity relationship in Figure 18.9. However, remember this relationship works only for main sequence stars. Determine which of the first 10 stars in Appendix J are main sequence stars. Use one of the figures in this chapter. Make a table of stars’ masses.
Figure 18.9 Mass-Luminosity Relation. The plotted points show the masses and luminosities of stars. The three points lying below the sequence of points are all white dwarf stars.
Expert Solution & Answer
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionStudents have asked these similar questions
The mass-luminosity relation describes the mathematical relationship between luminosity and mass for main sequence stars. It describes how a star with a mass of 4 M⊙ would have a luminosity of ______ L⊙.
If a star has a radius 1/2 that of the Sun and a temperature 4 that of the Sun, how many times higher is the star's luminosity than that of the Sun? (If it is smaller by a factor of 8, you would write 0.125 because 1/8=0.125)
If a star has a radius 2 times larger than the Sun's and a luminosity 1/4th that of the Sun, how many times higher is the star's temperature than that of the Sun? (If it is smaller by a factor of 8, you would write 0.125 because 1/8=0.125)
If a star has a surface temperature 2 times lower than the Sun's and a luminosity the same as the Sun, how many times larger is the star than the Sun? (If it is smaller by a factor of 8, you would write 0.125 because 1/8=0.125)
The sketch below shows an H-R diagram for a star cluster. Consider the star to which the arrow points. How is it currently
generating energy?
Temperature
A. by hydrogen shell burning around an inert helium core
B. by gravitational contraction
C. by core hydrogen fusion
D.by core helium fusion combined with hydrogen shell burning
E. by both hydrogen and helium shell burning around an inert carbon core
Luminosity -→
For each statement concerning main sequence stars, select T True, F False, G Greater than, L Less than, or E Equal to.
A) The surface temperature of a O type star is .... than a K type star.
B) On the main sequence, the mass of a O type star is .... than a F type star.
C) On the main sequence, a M type star's life is .... than a G type star.
D) The surface temperature of our Sun is .... than the surface temperature of Sirius.
E) When stars start hydrogen burning, thier mass determines where they are on the main sequence.
F) Based on the relative lifes of M and G type stars we expect the number of M stars to be .... than the number of G type stars.
Chapter 18 Solutions
Astronomy
Ch. 18 - How does the mass of the Sun compare with that of...Ch. 18 - Name and describe the three types of binary...Ch. 18 - Describe two ways of determining the diameter of a...Ch. 18 - What are the largest- and smallest-known values of...Ch. 18 - You are able to take spectra of both stars in an...Ch. 18 - Sketch an HR diagram. Label the axes. Show where...Ch. 18 - Describe what a typical star in the Galaxy would...Ch. 18 - How do we distinguish stars from brown dwarfs? How...Ch. 18 - Describe how the mass, luminosity, surface...Ch. 18 - One method to measure the diameter of a star is to...
Ch. 18 - We discussed in the chapter that about half of...Ch. 18 - Is the Sun an average star? Why or why not?Ch. 18 - Suppose you want to determine the average...Ch. 18 - Why do most known visual binaries have relatively...Ch. 18 - Figure 18.11 shows the light curve of a...Ch. 18 - There are fewer eclipsing binaries than...Ch. 18 - Within 50 light-years of the Sun, visual binaries...Ch. 18 - Which is easier to observe at large distances-a...Ch. 18 - The eclipsing binary Algol drops from maximum to...Ch. 18 - Review this spectral data for five stars. Which is...Ch. 18 - Which changes by the largest factor along the main...Ch. 18 - Suppose you want to search for brown dwarfs using...Ch. 18 - An astronomer discovers a type-M star with a large...Ch. 18 - Approximately 6000 stars are bright enough to be...Ch. 18 - Use the data in Appendix J to plot an HR diagram...Ch. 18 - Use the diagram you have drawn for Exercise 18.25...Ch. 18 - Use the data in Appendix I to plot an HR diagram...Ch. 18 - If a visual binary system were to have two...Ch. 18 - Two stars are in a visual binary star system that...Ch. 18 - Describe the spectra for a spectroscopic binary...Ch. 18 - Figure 18.7 shows the velocity of two stars in a...Ch. 18 - You go out stargazing one night, and someone asks...Ch. 18 - If you were to compare three stars with the same...Ch. 18 - Are supergiant stars also extremely massive?...Ch. 18 - Consider the following data on four stars: Which...Ch. 18 - If two stars are in a binary system with a...Ch. 18 - It is possible that stars as much as 200 times the...Ch. 18 - The lowest mass for a true star is 1/12 the mass...Ch. 18 - Spectral types are an indicator of temperature....Ch. 18 - We can estimate the masses of most of the stars in...Ch. 18 - In Diameters of Stars, the relative diameters of...Ch. 18 - Now calculate the radius of Sirius’ white dwarf...Ch. 18 - How does this radius of Sirius B compare with that...Ch. 18 - From the previous calculations and the results...Ch. 18 - How much would you weigh if you were suddenly...Ch. 18 - The star Betelgeuse has a temperature of 3400 K...Ch. 18 - Using the information provided in Table 18.1, what...Ch. 18 - Confirm that the angular diameter of the Sun of...Ch. 18 - An eclipsing binary star system is observed with...Ch. 18 - If a 100 solar mass star were to have a luminosity...Ch. 18 - If Betelgeuse had a mass that was 25 times that of...
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Find more solutions based on key concepts
3. What is free-fall, and why does it make you weightless? Briefly describe why astronauts are weightless in th...
The Cosmic Perspective (8th Edition)
Choose the best answer to each of the following. Explain your reasoning. If we see a nova, we know that we are ...
Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals
Space debris colliding with the young Earth billions of years ago heated up the planet. How did this heat contr...
Conceptual Integrated Science
Does it really help to run hot water over a tight metal lid on a glass jar before trying to open it? Explain yo...
University Physics Volume 2
Which system (A–D) has the extrasolar planet that is easiest to detect from Earth? Explain your reasoning.
Lecture- Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
Pluto and Eris. How does the nebular theory explain the origin of objects like Pluto and Eris? How was their fo...
Life in the Universe (4th Edition)
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- Describe how the mass, luminosity, surface temperature, and radius of main-sequence stars change in value going from the “bottom” to the “top” of the main sequence.arrow_forwardQuestion 41 .Suppose you are looking at H-R diagrams of two similar star clusters. The most luminous main sequence stars in the Porcini cluster are much more luminous than the most luminous main sequence stars in the Morel cluster. What can you conclude? O the Porcini cluster is younger than the Morel cluster O the Porcini cluster is farther away than the Morel cluster O the Porcini cluster is lower in metallicity than the Morel cluster O the Porcini cluster is larger in diameter than the Morel clusterarrow_forwardWhich of the following is least reasonable regarding the mass of stars? Group of answer choices The vast majority of stars fall into the range of 0.08 to 100 solar mass. Stars which are too small cannot sustain nuclear fusion. Stars which are excessively big are too sluggish to sustain nuclear fusion. There are more stars on the low end than on the high end of the mass spectrum. A brown dwarf has a mass just below the least massive star.arrow_forward
- Give ALL correct answers referring to the properties of known stars, i.e., B, AC, BCD... A) On the main sequence, more massive stars are colder. B) High mass stars are the most numerous type of stars observed in the galaxy. C) Giants are colder than main sequence stars at the same luminosity. D) Giants are brighter than dwarfs at the same temperature. E) On the main sequence, more massive stars are dimmer. F) White dwarf stars are much denser than main sequence stars. Hint: White dwarf stars have about the mass of our sun, but are only the size of the Earth. Therefore, they have a very high density.arrow_forwardFor a main sequence star with luminosity L, how many kilograms of hydrogen is being converted into helium per second? Use the formula that you derive to estimate the mass of hydrogen atoms that are converted into helium in the interior of the sun (LSun = 3.9 x 1026 W). (Note: the mass of a hydrogen atom is 1 mproton and the mass of a helium atom is 3.97 mproton. You need four hydrogen nuclei to form one helium nucleus.)arrow_forwardShown are three main sequence stars. Each one is a different size, but the color is not shown. Rank from longest to shortest the total amount of time it was a protostar before it was a main sequence star. A ? O Longest AC B Shortest O Longest BCA Shortest O Longest A B C Shortest B ? ? C All the stars would be a protostar for the same amount of timearrow_forward
- Using solar units, we find that a star has 4 times the luminosity of the Sun, a mass 1.25 times the mass of the Sun, and a surface temperature of 4090 K (take the Sun's surface temperature to be 5784 K for the sake of this problem). This means the star has a radius of.................... solar radii and is a .................... star (use the classification).arrow_forwardPlace the following events in the formation of stars in the proper chronological sequence, with the oldest first and the youngest last. w. the gas and dust in the nebula flatten to a disk shape due to gravity and a steadily increasing rate of angular rotation x. a star emerges when the mass is great enough and the temperature is high enough to trigger thermonuclear fusion in the core y. the rotation of the nebular cloud increases as gas and dust concentrates by gravity within the growing protostar in the center z. some force, perhaps from a nearby supernova, imparts a rotation to a nebular cloud y, then z, then w, then x z, then y, then w, then x w, then y, then z, then x z, then x, then w, then y x, then z, then y, then w MacBook Air on .H. O O O Oarrow_forwardObservations show that stellar luminosity, L, and mass, M, are related by L x M3.5 for main sequence stars. Obtain an expression that relates the main sequence life time and the mass of a star. You should assume that the luminosity is constant throughout a star's main sequence life time, and that the amount of mass converted into energy by a star while it is on the main sequence is given by AM main sequence life time of a 20 Solar mass star given that the Sun is expected to spend 1010 years on the main sequence. Comment on the significance of your answer. fM, where f is a constant. Estimate thearrow_forward
- Stars found on the main sequence of a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram share certain features not shared by other stars. What are these features? A Stars on the main sequence of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram are all roughly the same radius. Stars on the main sequence of a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram do not produce heavy elements like iron. Stars on the main sequence of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram have an orderly arrangement of stellar masses, decreasing in mass from lower right to upper left. Stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram main sequence have roughly the same age. Stars on the main sequence of a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram all generate energy from nuclear fusion. B D E F) None of the mentioned choices. 4arrow_forwardQUESTION 16 Use the figure shown below to complete the following statement: A low-mass protostar (0.5 to 8M the mass compared to our sun) remains roughly constant in decreases in until it makes a turn towards the main sequence, as it follows its evolutionary track. Protostars of different masses follow diferent paths on their way to the main sequence. 107 Luminosity (L) 10 105 10 107 10² 101 1 10-1 10-2 10-3 Spectral type 0.01 R 0.001 Re 60 M MAIN SEQUENCE 40,000 30,000 20 Mau 10 Mgun 5 Mun 0.1 Run Ren radius; temperature luminosity; radius 3 Min. 05 BO temperature; luminosity Oluminosity: temperature radius: luminosity 1 M 10,000 6000 Surlace temperature (K) 1,000 Rs 2 M STAR L 0.8 M B5 AO FOGO КБ МБ -10 +10 3000 Absolute visual magnitude andarrow_forwardA star with spectral type A0 has a surface temperature of 9600 K and a radius of 2.2 RSun. How many times more luminous is this star than the Sun? (if it is less luminous enter a number less than one) This star has a mass of 3.3 MSun. Using the simple approximation that we made in class, what is the main sequence lifetime of this star? You may assume that the lifetime of the sun is 1010 yr. Compare this to the lifetime of a A0 star listed in Table 22.1 (computed using a more sophisticated approach). Is the value you calculated in the previous problem longer or shorter than what is reported in the table? (L for longer, S for shorter) (You only get one try at this problem.)arrow_forward
arrow_back_ios
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
arrow_forward_ios
Recommended textbooks for you
- AstronomyPhysicsISBN:9781938168284Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. WolffPublisher:OpenStaxStars and GalaxiesPhysicsISBN:9781305120785Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage LearningFoundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399920Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399944Author:Michael A. SeedsPublisher:Cengage Learning
Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:9781938168284
Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher:OpenStax
Stars and Galaxies
Physics
ISBN:9781305120785
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399920
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399944
Author:Michael A. Seeds
Publisher:Cengage Learning