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Physics 121
Chapter 8
RQ: 1,4,14 P: 1,7,11
RQ 1:
Why are earth-based parallax measurements limited to the nearest stars?
Parallax measurements are limited because we measure the motion of a star due to
the motion of Earth around the sun. Earth’s orbit is so small compared to the distance to
stars that even the nearest stars show very small apparent motions. Therefore, we are
limited to the only the nearest stars. If Earth’s orbit were larger, we could measure the
parallax of stars at greatest distance.
RQ 4:
What does luminosity measure that is different from what absolute visual magnitude
measure?
The luminosity is a measure of the total amount of energy emitted by a star in one
second. The absolute visual magnitude is related to the portion of the total luminosity
emitted only in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Consequently, the
absolute visual magnitude ignores energy in the gamma-ray, x-ray, ultraviolet, infrared,
and radio.
RQ 14: What is the most common kind of star?
The most common types of stars are the red dwarfs(lower main sequence stars)
and the white dwarfs.
Problems
P 1:
If a star has a parallax of 0.05 seconds of arc, what is its distance in pc? in AU?
1
, p  parallax  .05
p
1
d
.05seconds of arc
d  20pc
d
206,265 AU
d

1 pc
200 pc
d  4.125  10 6 AU
P 7:
If a star is 10 times the radius of the sun and half as hot, what will its luminosity be?
(Hint: See By the Numbers 8-3.)
L  R 
 
L  R 
2
4
T 
T
  ; R  10  R , T  
2
 T 
2
4
 10  R   T 
 
  L
L  
 R   2T 
1
L  100   L
16
L  6.25 L
P 11:
If two stars orbit each other with a period of 6 years and a separation of 4 AU, what is
there total mass?(Hint: See By the Numbers 8-4.)
M A  M B  M tot 
M tot
p2

4 AU 3

6 years 2
64
36
 1.78 solar masses
M tot 
M tot
a3