Problem Set 3

HCAstro Winter Training 2021

1. The Hertzsprung–Russell (HR) diagram plots stars’ luminosity against their temper-
ature. Sketch an HR diagram, indicating clearly:
a) the main sequence,
b) red giants,
c) supergiants,
d) white dwarves, and
e) the instability strip.

2. On a HR diagram, roughly sketch the path of a newly-forming star of solar mass, as

it makes its way from being a nebula to a zero-age main sequence star. Briefly explain
why the graph looks like what you drew.

3. To determine properties of a distant star cluster, a common method is main sequence

fitting.
a) Explain how this method allows us to determine the distance to the star cluster.
b) By considering the rate of stellar evolution for stars of different masses, explain
what is meant by the main sequence turnoff point, and hence how this method
allows us to determine the age of a star cluster.
c) Sketch the expected HR diagrams of a young and old star cluster, and qualitatively
explain their differences.

4. Consider a situation where two masses M and m are orbiting each other, but don’t
assume M  m. Suppose that both masses orbit their common centre of mass, the
barycentre, along a circular path.
a) Are the angular speeds of the two masses the same? How about their orbital
speeds? How about their orbital periods?
b) Let r be the distance between the two masses. In terms of r, find the distance
between the barycentre and each of the two masses.
c) Hence, by considering forces on each mass, deduce the period of the masses.
Verify that this is consistent with Kepler’s third law.

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5. One of the earliest pieces of evidence for dark matter lies in the rotation curves of
spiral galaxies.
a) What is a rotation curve?
b) Sketch the rotation curve predicted using theoretical calculations based on ob-
servable matter. On the same graph, sketch the rotation curve that is actually
observed.
c) Hence, explain why these rotation curves suggest the existence of dark matter.