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Identify that the surface As seen above, the amount of energy being
temperature of a star is radiated from a star (i.e. its temperature) is
related to its colour related to the wavelength of the EMR its
emitting
For visible light, shorter wavelengths
correspond to colours such as blue and violet,
while longer wavelengths correspond to reds
and oranges.
As such, hotter stars are seen to be blue-violet
while cooler stars (such as our sun), appear red
to yellow.
Describe a HR diagram Luminosity and Temperature of stars are
as the graph of a stars plotted against each other
luminosity against its Stars with specific characteristics can be
colour or surface
temperature identified, and help astronomers understand
evolution of stars
Star temperatures decrease to the right
Radius of stars increase vertically for each
spectral class
Closer to the middle= longer life
Identify energy sources Main sequence stars are the most common
characteristic of each types of stars.
star group, including Main sequence stars produce energy through
main sequence, red the process of nuclear fusion of H to He in core
giants and white dwarfs Red giants are larger and cooler stars
Red giants produce energy through the process
of nuclear fusion of He to C in core, and H to
He fusion continuing in the shells.
The large size of the star gives it a high
luminosity and its low temperature is due to the
heat spreading out over a greater volume,
giving the star an overall lower temperature
White dwarfs are hotter and smaller
White dwarfs do not have any energy-
producing reactions occurring.
The small size of the star gives it a low
luminosity and the high temperature is due to
the closeness of the core of the star to its
surface
Topic 4 Syllabus Dot Point Summary
The sun is a Identify that energy Energy may be released from the nuclei of
typical star, may be released from atoms during nuclear fusion and nuclear fission
emitting the nuclei of atoms as radiation
electromagnetic Describe the nature of
radiation and emissions from the
particles that nuclei of atoms as
influence the radiation of alpha,
Earth beta, and gamma rays