Problem Set 2

HCAstro Winter Training 2021

1. Two sets of time measurement systems are often used in the study of planets orbiting
around a star in Astronomy. Most commonly, they are used in considering the Earth’s
orbit around the Sun.
a) Explain the meaning of synodic and sidereal time. For the case of the Earth, state
the values of a synodic (solar) day, and a sidereal day.
365.24
b) The Earth’s solar and sidereal days are approximately related by the ratio 366.24 .
By considering the orbit of Earth around the Sun, explain why this is the case?

2. A main sequence star is defined as a star which is performing hydrogen fusion in its
core.
a) State the two mechanisms by which hydrogen may be fused into helium.
b) Briefly explain these two mechanisms, and explain why their names appropriately
describe the mechanisms.

3. Spectroscopy is the primary method by which the chemical composition of celestial

objects are determined.
a) In terms of discrete energy levels of electrons around an atomic nucleus, explain
what is meant by, and what causes, emission lines and absorption lines.
b) Does light from a star contain primarily absorption or emission lines? Why?
c) Based on your answer in (a), explain how studying the spectrum of a star allows
us to determine its chemical composition.

4. To determine distances further than 1000pc, where parallax cannot be used, as-
tronomers often use standard candles. In this question, we explore one type of standard
candle, which are Cepheid variables.
a) Explain what is meant by a standard candle, and why they help in determining
distances.
b) Explain what is meant by an intrinsic variable star, and why Cepheid variables
are an example of them.
(You are not being asked for an explanation for the mechanism.)

1
 c) Sketch the Period–Luminosity relationship for Cepheids. Hence, explain how
direct measurement of light emitted by Cepheids can lead to a determination of
their distance.

5. For this problem, consider a planet of mass m orbiting a star of mass M at distance
r, with M much larger than m. Assume circular orbits.
a) Define uniform circular motion (UCM), and explain why the planet in this system
is undergoing UCM.
b) State the centripetal force required for a mass to maintain UCM.
c) State Newton’s law of universal gravitation.
d) Hence, by considering forces on the planet, deduce its orbital speed, angular
speed, and orbital period.