Characteristics of Stars

Physics in the Universe Name: Date: Pd:

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The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram plots the relationship between different star characteristics, such as mass, color,
luminosity, and temperature. The purpose of this assignment is to become familiar with the characteristics of stars, and
how they relate to each other.

1. Complete the following data table of specific stars? Data Table 1:

Surface
Name Temperature Color Luminosity Relative Mass Group Stage
(K)
Sun 5,000 Yellow 1 Medium Main Sequence Early

Spica

Betelgeuse

40 Eridani B
Proxima
Centauri
Aldebaran
2. Which characteristic always increases with increasing mass? _______________________

3. Which characteristic is directly associated with surface temperature? _____________________

4. a. What two characteristics do Deneb and Procyon B have in common?

b. What ​four​​ characteristics do Deneb and Procyon B not share?

5. Rank the following star colors by increasing surface temperature:

yellow, blue, red, orange, white

coolest: __________________, __________________, __________________, __________________, __________________:hottest

6. Small main sequence stars tend to be ___________ in color, with a luminosity less than _________ and a surface

temperature between ______________K and _______________K.

7. Medium mass main sequence stars tend to be ___________ in color, with a luminosity between ______________ and

_______________ and a surface temperature between ______________K and _______________K.

8. Massive main sequence stars tend to be ___________ in color, with a luminosity between ________________ and _______________

and a surface temperature between ______________K and _______________K.

9. Polaris is also called the “North Star”. How many times more luminous is Polaris compared to the sun? ___________X

10. How would our sun appear if it had a lot more mass? Be specific.

11. How would our sun appear if it had much less mass? Be specific.