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distance in km
Top of the atmosphere International Space Station Geostationary satellite The Moon The Sun Neptune (from the Sun) Proxima Centuari (nearest star to the Sun) Sirius (brightest star) Centre of the Milky Way Andromeda Galaxy Furthest object observed (GRB as of April 23rd 2009) 100 270 to 460 36 000 380 000 150 000 000 4 500 000 000 40 x 1012 (40 000 000 000 000) 80 x 1012 260 x 1015 20 x 1018 400 x 1021 X3 X 120 X 11 X 400 X 30 X 9000 (X 270 000 Sun) X2 X 3300 X 80 X 20 000
multiplier
Question
Calculate the time taken to: (a) travel to the Moon at 100 kmh-1 (63 m.p.h.) (b) (i) travel to the Sun and (ii) Proxima Centuari using the Apollo spacecraft that took three days to reach the Moon. Distances in km: Moon: 380 000 km Sun: 150 000 000 km Proxima Centuari: 40 x 1012 km
Questions on AU
1. Calculate the distance to Proxima Centuari in Astronomical Units, distance to PC = 40 x 1012 km 2. How many AUs are there in one light year?
Stellar parallax
This is the shifting of nearby stars against the background of more distant ones due to the orbital movement of the Earth about the Sun.
Earth - June
2
nearby star
Earth - December
View from the Earth in June:
distant stars
Measurement of the angle 2 can yield the distance to the nearby star.
nearby star
Earth - December
tan = R d becomes: d = R / tan angle is always VERY small and so tan = in radians and so: d = R /
1 parsec is defined as the distance to a star which subtends an angle of 1 arc second to the line from the centre of the Earth to the centre of the Sun.
1.00 2.0
0.10
0.01
10 100
With ground based telescopes the parallax method of distance measurement is acceptably accurate for distances up to 100 pc.
Question 1
Calculate the distance of 1 parsec measured in (a) AU (b) metres (c) light years. 1 AU = 150 x 109 m 1 light year = 9.47 x 1015 m
Question 2
Calculate the distance to a star of parallax angle 0.25 arc seconds in (a) parsecs and (b) light years. 1 parsec = 3.26 light years
Luminosity
Luminosity is the power output of a star.
luminosity = power = energy output time unit: watt The brightness of a star depends on a stars luminosity.
Intensity of radiation ( I )
intensity = power of radiation area unit: W m -2 Example: At the Earths surface the average intensity of sunlight is about 1400 W m -2
Apparent magnitude, m
The apparent magnitude, m of a star in the night sky is a measure of its brightness which depends on the intensity of the light received from the star.
Stars were in ancient times divided into six levels of apparent magnitude. The brightest were called FIRST MAGNITUDE stars, those just visible to the unaided eye in the darkest sky, SIXTH MAGNITUDE.
Vega
Deneb Polaris
Dimmest star visible from Addlestone Dimmest star visible from darkest sky
0
+ 1.25 + 2.01 about + 4 about + 6
Full Moon
Venus Jupiter
Andromeda Galaxy
- 12.6
- 4.6 (max) - 2.9 + 3.4 + 7.8 + 31.5
Betelgeuse + 0.58
Neptune
Faintest object observable by HST
Question
Calculate how much brighter Sirius (m = -1.47) is compared with Polaris (m = 2.01)
Absolute magnitude, M
The absolute magnitude, M of a star is equal to its apparent magnitude if it were placed at a distance of 10 parsecs from the Earth. It can be shown that for a star distance d, in parsecs, from the Earth: m M = 5 log (d / 10) NOTE: log means BASE 10 logarithms
Question 1
Calculate the absolute magnitude of the Sun if its apparent magnitude is 26.7 1 parsec = 207 000 AU
Question 2
Sirius has an apparent magnitude of 1.47. Calculate the distance in AU it would need to be from the Earth to equal the brightness of the Suns apparent magnitude of -26.7. Sirius distance = 8.3 lyr 1 parsec = 3.26 light years 1 parsec = 207 000 AU
Starlight
Stars differ in colour as well as brightness. Colour differences are only really apparent when stars are viewed through a telescope as they can collect more light than the unaided eye. A star emits thermal radiation that is continuous across the electromagnetic spectrum. However, each star has a wavelength at which it emits at maximum power. In the case of the Sun this corresponds to the wavelength of yellow light. The power variation versus wavelength follows the pattern of a black body radiator which is a perfect absorber (and emitter) of radiation.
2000 K
1250 K 1000 K
0 visible range 1 2 3 4 5 wavelength / m
Question 1
Calculate the peak wavelength emitted by the Sun if its surface temperature is 6000 K.
Question 2
Red giant Betelgeuse, peak wavelength 828nm, and blue supergiant Rigel, peak wavelength 263nm, are both in the constellation of Orion. Calculate the surface temperatures of these stars.
Betelgeuse
Rigel
Question 3
A very large black body has a thermal temperature of 2.7K. Calculate its maximum power wavelength.
Stefans law
The total energy per second (power), P emitted by a black body at absolute temperature, T is proportional to its surface area, A and to T4.
P = A T4
Where is a constant known as Stefans constant. = 5.67 x 10-8 W m-2 K-4
This equation can be used to determine the surface area and diameter of a star.
Question 1
Calculate the power output of the Sun if its diameter is 1.39 x 106 km and its surface temperature 5800 K.
Question 2
Calculate the surface area and radius of Betelgeuse if its luminosity is 4.09 x 1031 W and its surface temperature 3500 K.
Stellar spectra
The photosphere of a star gives off a continuous spectrum. However, when this light passes through the outmost layer of a star, the corona, some of the wavelengths are absorbed by the hot gases in this region. This causes dark lines to be seen in the otherwise continuous spectrum given out by the star. The wavelengths of these dark lines are characteristic to the elements and compounds found in the corona of the star. The chemical composition of the star can be determined by comparing a stars spectrum with the known absorption spectra for different elements and compounds.
photosphere
corona
O, B, A, F, G, K, M
There are two further groups (not required in the exam) called L and T. In these groups are found red and brown dwarf stars.
spectral class
Intrinsic colour
Temperature (K) 25 000 to 50 000 11000 to 25 000 7500 to 11 000 6000 to 7500 5000 to 6000 3500 to 5000 2500 to 3500
Spectrum
O B A
He H H (strongest), ionised metals ionised metals ionised and neutral metals neutral metals neutral metals and TiO
G
K M
- 10
-5 0 +5 giants
+ 10
The Sun + 15
40 000 O B
20 000 A
10 000 F G
5000 K
2500 temperature / K M
Question
An orange giant and a main sequence star have the same absolute magnitude of 0. Their surface temperatures are 5000K and 15 000K respectively. Show that the radius of the orange giant is 9 times larger than that of the main sequence star.
LOW temperature
2. MAIN SEQUENCE The newly formed star reaches internal equilibrium as the inward gravitational attraction is balanced by outward radiation pressure. The star becomes stable with a near constant luminosity. The greater the mass of the star, the higher will be its absolute magnitude and surface temperature but the shorter is the time the star remains MAIN SEQUENCE. The Sun is about half-way through its 10 billion year passage. The largest stars may only last for tens of millions of years. While on the MAIN SEQUENCE the stars absolute magnitude and surface temperature gradually increase. In about two billion years time the Earth will become too hot to sustain life.
absolute magnitude
gradual warming
HIGH temperature LOW temperature
3. RED GIANT Once most of the hydrogen in the core of the star has been converted to helium, the core collapses on itself and the outer layers of the star expand and cool as a result. The star swells out, moves off the MAIN SEQUENCE and becomes a RED GIANT. The temperature of the helium core increases as it collapses. This causes surrounding hydrogen to undergo fusion, which heats the core further. When the core reaches about 108 K helium nuclei undergo fusion. This forms even heavier nuclei principally beryllium, carbon and oxygen. The luminosity of the star increases as the star expands. The Sun is expected to achieve a radius roughly equal to the Earths orbit. The RED GIANT phase lasts for about one fifth of the MAIN SEQUENCE stage.
absolute magnitude
red giant
HIGH temperature
LOW temperature
4. PLANETARY NEBULA AND WHITE DWARF When nuclear fusion in the core of a giant star ceases, the star cools and its core contracts, causing the outer layers of the star to be thrown off.
absolute magnitude
The outer layers are thrown off as shells of hot gas and dust to form a PLANETARY NEBULA.
The remaining core of the star is white hot due to the release of gravitational energy. If it is less than about 1.4 solar masses, the contraction of the core stops as the electrons in the core can no longer be forced any closer. The star is now stable and has become a WHITE DWARF. This gradually cools to invisibility over a few billion years.
white dwarf
HIGH temperature LOW temperature
absolute magnitude
red giant
planetary nebula
nebula
Supergiant star Betelgeuse imaged in ultraviolet light by the Hubble Space Telescope and subsequently enhanced by NASA. The bright white spot is likely one of its poles.
Supernovae
A supernovae can occur when the iron core of supergiant is greater than about 1.4 solar masses. In this case the gravitational forces are too great for the repulsive forces of electrons. Electrons are forced to react with protons to form neutrons.
The Crab Nebula The remnant of a supernova observed in 1054
p + e - n + ve
The sudden collapse of the core occurs within a few seconds and its density increases to that of atomic nuclei, about 1017 kgm-3 The core suddenly becomes rigid and collapsing matter surrounding the core hits it and rebounds as a shock wave propelling the surrounding matter outwards into space in a cataclysmic explosion. The exploding star releases so much energy that it can outshine the host galaxy.
A supernova is typically a thousand million times more luminous than the Sun. Within 24 hours its absolute magnitude will reach between -15 and -20.
Elements heavier than iron are formed by nuclear fusion in a supernova explosion. Their existence in the Earth tells us that the Solar System formed from the remnants of a supernova.
Types of supernova
Type Spectrum no hydrogen lines; strong silicon line no hydrogen lines; strong helium line no hydrogen or helium lines Light output decreases steadily decreases steadily decreases steadily Origin white dwarf attracts matter and explodes supergiant collapses then explodes supergiant collapses then explodes supergiant collapses then explodes
Ia Ib
Ic
II
Question
In a distant galaxy a Type 1a supernova is observed to have an apparent magnitude of + 8.0. Calculate the distance to this galaxy in (a) parsecs and (b) light years if the supernova has an absolute magnitude of 19. 1 parsec = 3.26 light years
Neutron stars
A neutron star is formed from the remnant core of a supernova.
Gravitational forces cause electrons to react with protons to form neutrons. p + e - n + ve
The star now has a density of atomic nuclei, about 1017 kgm-3
Neutron stars were first discovered in 1967 as a result of the radio beams that they emit as they rapidly rotate.
They are also called pulsars with frequencies of up to 30 Hz
Question
Estimate the mass of a tea-spoonful of neutron star. Take the density of a neutron star to be 1.0 x 1017 kgm-3
Black holes
If the core remnant of a supernova is greater than about 3 solar masses the neutrons are unable to withstand the immense gravitational forces pushing them together. The core collapses on itself and becomes so dense that not even light can escape from it. It is now a black hole. What the core now consists of is unknown. It is sometimes referred to as a singularity.
Evidence for the existence of black holes was first found in 1971 from an X-ray source called Cygnus X-1 which was in the same location as a supergiant star.
= Sun
CORE MASS
< 1.4
MASS > 0.05 nebula MASS < 0.05 MASS < 0.23
MASS 0.23 to 4
red giant
CORE MASS planetary nebula <3 >3
white dwarf
neutron star
black hole
Schwarzchild radius, Rs
The size of a black hole is defined as the distance from its centre at which the escape speed is equal to that of light. This is known as the Schwarzchild radius, Rs where: Rs = 2GM / c2 The surface of the sphere defined by the Schwarzchild radius is called the event horizon, because nothing that occurs inside this boundary (any event) can be observed on the outside.
event horizon
Rs
singularity
Question
Calculate the for a black hole of mass 3 x Sun. (a) its Schwarzchild radius, (b) its mean density inside its event horizon. Suns mass = 2.0 x 1030 kg G = 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2 kg-2 c = 3.00 x 108 x ms-1
Galactic centres
Supermassive black holes are thought to exist at the centres of most galaxies including our own.
The mass of such black holes can be estimated by measuring the orbital speeds of stars near to the galactic centre.
In the case of the Milky Way this is estimated to be about 2.6 million solar masses.
Sagittarius A The location of the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy
Question
Calculate the for a black hole at the centre of the Milky Way of mass 2.6 million x Sun. (a) its Schwarzchild radius, (b) its mean density inside its event horizon.
Suns mass = 2.0 x 1030 kg G = 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2 kg-2 c = 3.00 x 108 x ms-1