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Chapter 19: Problem 56

Although Polaris, the North Star, is a Cepheid variable, it pulsates in a somewhat different way than other Cepheids. Search the World Wide Web for information about this star's pulsations and how they have been measured by astronomers at the U.S. Naval Observatory. How does Polaris pulsate? How does this differ from other Cepheids?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Polaris is a Cepheid variable star, but its pulsation behavior differs from typical Cepheids. It has an extremely slow increase in brightness followed by a rapid decrease, making its pulsation pattern unique. The U.S. Naval Observatory has been recording data of Polaris' pulsations using advanced observation equipment. This unique pattern sets Polaris apart from other Cepheid variable stars, which have more predictable and regular pulsation patterns.

Step by step solution

01

Research about Polaris

To begin, find reputable sources to gain information about Polaris, the North Star. Make sure to pay close attention to details about the star's pulsations and how it behaves differently from other Cepheid variable stars. Websites like NASA's or the U.S. Naval Observatory's own website could be a good starting point.
02

Understanding Cepheid Variable Stars

Acquire the fundamental knowledge behind what Cepheid variable stars are and how they generally pulsate. This knowledge makes it easier to comprehend how Polaris is different from them.
03

Measurements by U.S. Naval Observatory

Given that the exercise specifically mentions the U.S. Naval Observatory, look for information on how this organization has measured the pulsations of Polaris. This might involve a bit more extensive research using scientific articles or reports released by the U.S. Naval Observatory.
04

Compare pulsation patterns

After gathering all requisite information, compare the pulsation patterns of Polaris and other Cepheid variable stars. Identify the differences and note them.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Why do high-mass main-sequence stars have shorter lifetimes than those of lower mass?

Why do Cepheid stars pulsate? Why are these stars important to astronomers who study galaxies beyond the Milky Way?

What is the helium flash? Why does it happen in some stars but not in others?

Use the Stary Night Enthusiast \({ }^{\mathrm{TM}}\) program to look for signs of stellar evolution in our Milky Way Galaxy. In the menu, select Favourites \(>\) Stars \(>\) Sun in Milky Way. You can zoom in or out using the buttons at the right of the toolbar. You can move your viewpoint around the Galaxy by holding down the Shift key and the mouse button as you drag the mouse. (a) What is the color of the central part of the Galaxy? Based on the color of this region, do you expect that there are many massive mainsequence stars there? Would you expect to find many young stars there? Explain your reasoning. (b) Repeat part (a) for the outer regions of the Galaxy.

Why do astronomers attribute the observed Doppler shifts of a Cepheid variable to pulsation, rather than to some other cause, such as orbital motion?
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