Download Lab 21.1 Classifying Stars

Name: _____________________________ Block: ________ Date: _______________________________
EARTH SCIENCE 11
Lab 21.1 Classifying Stars
Objective:
Using a Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram:
1. Plot and classify stars according to intrinsic brightness and temperature
2. Note the relationship between a star’s mass and its brightness
3. Classify stars into the five main groups
4. Learn how to graph on log paper
Materials:
List of 20 brightest stars
List of 36 closest stars
Blank graph
Pencil
Procedure:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Groups of two (maximum), but each person does the lab.
Note the position of the Sun: temperature = 5,000C
Plot the 36 closest stars on the graph paper and mark each star’s location with a small “x”.
Plot the 20 brightest stars on the graph paper and mark each star’s location with a small “o”.
Using the diagram on page 382 of the text, label the five groups (four of them are circled). The
third group from the top of the page is not in the text and is called Subgiants.
6. Answer the questions that follow below, directly onto this sheet.
7. Hand in on due date.
Questions:
1. Compare the star’s mass to its luminosity and to its temperature. Can you find any basic
relationship between these traits? (i.e. the greater the mass, the ….) _____________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. (a) What is a red giant? ___________________________________________________________
(b) Give examples. ____________________________ & ________________________________
3. How are supergiants different from red giants? 100’s of times__________________
Name: _____________________________ Block: ________ Date: _______________________________
EARTH SCIENCE 11
4. (a) What are white dwarfs? _______________________________________________________
(b) How does their density compare to that of Earth? ___________________________________
5. Variable stars:
(a) What are they? ______________________________________________________________
(b) Cepheid variables are used to measure ____________________ in space.
(c) An eclipsing binary is when ______ stars ___________________ around each other.
6. Pulsars:
(a) Give off powerful ___________________ ______________________.
(b) are the remaining core of a ___________________ star after a huge explosion in space that
is called a _________________________.
Name: _____________________________ Block: ________ Date: _______________________________
EARTH SCIENCE 11
Name: _____________________________ Block: ________ Date: _______________________________
EARTH SCIENCE 11
Name: _____________________________ Block: ________ Date: _______________________________
EARTH SCIENCE 11