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19.10.1: Review Questions

  • Page ID
    66646
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    Review Questions

    1.

    Explain how parallax measurements can be used to determine distances to stars. Why can we not make accurate measurements of parallax beyond a certain distance?

    2.

    Suppose you have discovered a new cepheid variable star. What steps would you take to determine its distance?

    3.

    Explain how you would use the spectrum of a star to estimate its distance.

    4.

    Which method would you use to obtain the distance to each of the following?

    1. An asteroid crossing Earth’s orbit
    2. A star astronomers believe to be no more than 50 light-years from the Sun
    3. A tight group of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy that includes a significant number of variable stars
    4. A star that is not variable but for which you can obtain a clearly defined spectrum

    5.

    What are the luminosity class and spectral type of a star with an effective temperature of 5000 K and a luminosity of 100 LSun?


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