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Stellar Properties/Evolution Review Sheet
1. It has been determined that all stars have the same general composition (90% H, 9% He, trace
amounts of heavy elements). If this is the case, explain why stars of different temperatures
show different spectral line patterns.
2. Use the table to answer the following questions.
Star
Spectral Type
m
M
Procyon
Arcturus
Vega
Achernar
GL 725A
Canopus
 Centauri
F5
K2
0.37
-0.06
0.04
0.45
8.9
-0.62
0.01
2.6
-0.3
0.05
-2.77
11.16
-5.53
4.38
A0
B3
M3
A9
G2
a. Which star is the hottest? Coolest?
b. Which star looks most red? Most blue?
c. Which star is the most luminous? Least luminous?
d. Which star appears the brightest? Faintest?
e. Which star’s spectrum shows the strongest Balmer lines of Hydrogen?
f.
Which star’s spectrum most resembles the Sun’s?
g. Which star is the closest (find m-M)?
h. Which star has the smallest parallax angle?
i.
Which star can’t be seen without the use of a telescope?
j.
How is it possible that Canopus is more luminous than Achernar, given their respective
spectral types?
3. List the evolutionary stages of the Sun’s life cycle & describe how its size (Radius),
temperature, and luminosity changes with each stage.
4. Reorder the stars according to the Harvard Spectral Classification System and then answer
the questions that follow.
Star
Spectral Type
Procyon
Arcturus
Vega
Achernar
Betelgeuse
Meissa
Polaris
 Centauri
F5
K2
Reordered Stars
(Star Names)
A0
B3
M2
O8
F8
G2
5. HR Diagram & Stellar Evolution – Circle the star that correctly answers each question.
Use the information found on the HR Diagram that has been provided to answer the
following questions.
Which of the following stars took the longest time to form?
Vega
Altair
Sun
Which of the following stars will live the shortest amount of time on the Main Sequence?
Sirius A
Altair
Barnard’s Star
Which of the following stars has the smallest size?
Procyon B
Barnard’s Star
Sun
Which of the following stars is a stellar remnant?
Spica
Sirius B
Wolf 359
Which of the following stars is presently fusing Hydrogen into Helium in its core?
Arcturus
Regulus
Procyon B
Which of the following stars will eventually have a core made of Iron?
Sun
Regulus
Sirius B
Which of the following stars has the greatest chance of turning into a black hole?
Pollux
Barnard’s Star
Deneb
Which of the following stars is fusing Helium into Carbon in its core?
Altair
Sirius A
Betelgeuse
Which of the following stars is most luminous?
Regulus
Proxima Centauri
Aldeberan
Which of the following stars most recently used up its core supply of Hydrogen?
Procyon A
Pollux
Arcturus