LAB #50: Classification of Stars - Rochester City School District

[Pages:3]Name:

___ Date: _________________

Period:

LAB #50: Classification of Stars

Introduction: A star's actual brightness (absolute Magnitude or M) is related to its temperature and size. In addition, the temperature also determines a star's color and therefore its spectral type. Cooler stars are red and are M-spectral type. Hotter stars are blue and a B- or O-spectral type.

Giant Stars

Star

Type M

Arcturus

K2 -0.3

Aldebaran

K5 -0.2

Pollux

K0 0.8

Capella

G0 -0.6

Supergiant Stars

Star

Type M

Rigel

B8 -6.8

Deneb

A2 -6.9

Canopus

F0 -3.1

Antares

M1 -4.5

Betelgeuse

M2 -5.5

White Dwarf Stars

Star

Type M

Sirius B

A5 11.4

Procyon B

F5 13.1

Type O B A F G K M

Spectral Sequence

Color

Temperature (K)

Blue-violet 30,000-50,000

Blue-white 11,000-30,000

White

7,500-11,000

Yellow-white 5,900-7,500

Yellow

5,200-5,900

Orange

3,900-5,200

Red

2,500-3,900

Main Sequence Stars

Procedure: 1. First plot the stars in the data tables above (a few stars will plot below the x-axis!). 2. Plot stars in each table and circle/label the group on your graph. 3. Color each spectral type according to the Spectral Sequence above. 4. Analyze the data by answering the concluding questions.

Analysis and Conclusions

1. Referring to your plotted star diagram, describe the sun in terms of absolute magnitude, temperature, color, and spectral class. How does the sun compare to other stars?

2. Referring to the main sequence stars on your plotted star diagram, what is the relationship between star temperature and absolute magnitude?

3. What would the absolute magnitude/color/spectral class of a main sequence star be if it had a temperature of 30,000 K?

4. How does a star's color change as its temperature increases?

5. Why does a cool, supergiant star such as Betelgeuse have such a high magnitude?

6. Considering the relatively high temperatures of some nearby white dwarf stars, why do they have such a low absolute magnitude?

7. If Deneb and Rigel were located where our sun is, how would they appear to us? 8. CONCLUSION: On what basis are stars classified?

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download