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Chapter 16: Problem 5

If a star follows a horizontal path across the H-R diagram, the star a. maintains the same temperature. b. stays the same color. c. maintains the same luminosity. d. keeps the same spectral type.

Short Answer

Expert verified
c. maintains the same luminosity.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the H-R Diagram

The Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram is a graph that plots stars’ luminosity against their surface temperatures. Luminosity is plotted on the vertical axis and temperature on the horizontal axis.
02

Identifying the Axes

Note that temperature decreases from left to right on the horizontal axis, and luminosity increases from bottom to top on the vertical axis.
03

Evaluating Horizontal Movement

When a star moves horizontally across the H-R diagram, its position changes along the horizontal axis. Since the horizontal axis represents temperature, the star's temperature will change. As a result, its color and spectral type, which depend on temperature, will also change.
04

Analyzing Luminosity

The vertical position on the H-R diagram represents the star's luminosity. If the movement is purely horizontal, the star's vertical position (luminosity) remains constant.
05

Conclusion

The star maintains the same luminosity since it does not change its vertical position on the H-R diagram.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Stellar Luminosity
Stellar luminosity is the total amount of energy emitted by a star per unit of time. Simply put, it measures how bright a star truly is. This is different from apparent brightness, which is how bright a star appears from Earth. Luminosity is an intrinsic property and does not change regardless of the observer's location. The luminosity of a star depends largely on its size (radius) and temperature. The hotter and larger a star is, the more luminous it will be. The Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram helps us visualize stars' luminosity in relation to their surface temperatures.
Surface Temperature
Surface temperature of a star determines its color and spectral type. Hotter stars appear blue or white, while cooler stars appear red or orange. This temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). A star's surface temperature is plotted on the horizontal axis of the H-R diagram, with higher temperatures on the left side and lower temperatures on the right side. As stars change temperature, they can move horizontally across the H-R diagram. Changes in temperature lead to changes in spectral type and color. For instance, moving from left to right, a star might shift from a hot blue spectral type to a cooler red spectral type.
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram Interpretation
The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is a crucial tool for understanding stellar evolution and properties. It's a graphical representation showing the relationship between a star's luminosity (vertical axis) and its surface temperature (horizontal axis).
  • Luminosity increases as we move up the vertical axis.
  • Temperature decreases as we move from left to right on the horizontal axis.
When a star moves horizontally across the H-R diagram, its temperature, spectral type, and color will change, but its luminosity remains constant. Conversely, vertical movement indicates changes in a star's luminosity while its temperature remains stable. By analyzing these movements, we can track how stars evolve over time.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

If a main-sequence star suddenly started burning hydrogen at a faster rate in its core, it would become. a. larger, hotter, and more luminous. b. larger, cooler, and more luminous. c. smaller, hotter, and more luminous. d. smaller, cooler, and more luminous.

\(\mathbf{T} / \mathbf{F}:\) When a star first runs out of fuel in the core, it becomes brighter.

Roughly how large does a planetary nebula grow before it disperses? Use an expansion rate of \(20 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s}\) and a lifetime of 50,000 years.

T/F: All stars eventually die.

Suppose a star is able to heat its core temperature high enough to begin fusing oxygen. Predict how the star will continue to evolve, including how you think the star will evolve on the H-R diagram.
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