Formula Sheet for Astronomy 1 - Paper 1

and Stars & Planets

Astrophysical Concepts and Solar System

2hc 2 1
I     
Planck distribution: 5  exp hc   1
 
  kT  

Wien’s law:  max T  2.898x 10  3 m.K

Stefan’s law: F = T4

 C1Z 2  1 1 
or h = C1Z 
2
Energy levels for Hydrogen-like atom or ion: E n  
n2  n1
2
n 22 

C1 = 13.6 eV

 v
1  
   v
  o 
c
Doppler effect: For v << c,  
v2 o o c
1 2
c

3
Average thermal energy of atom in gas: E kT
2

a (1  e 2 )
Equation of ellipse in polar co-ordinates: r
1  e cos 

1/ 2
 b 2 
eccentricity: e  1 
 a 2 


perihelion distance: rp  a (1  e)

1 1 1
Synodic period of planet, Ts, given by:  
Ts TE Tp

2
 T  a3
Kepler’s Third Law:   
 2  GM

2mab
Angular momentum: J=
T

 2 1
Vis-viva equation: v 2  GM  
r a
 1/ 3
 9M 
Roche limit: r   
 4 

dP  GM ( r )( r )
Hydrostatic equilibrium: 
dr r2

Barometer equation: P = Ps exp(-mgh/kT)

1/ 4
 (1  A)L o 
Thermodynamic equilibrium: T=  
 16r 2 
Stars

F 
m A  m B  2.5 log10  A 
Magnitudes:  FB 
m  M  5 log10 r (pc)  5

4 2 1
Binary star orbits: M1     r1  r2  2 r2
G T2

k
Ideal gas equation: P    T
m

Degeneracy pressure: P = A5/3

B2
Energy density in a magnetic field: UB 
2 o

2GM
Schwarzschild radius of a black hole: RS 
c2