ASTRONOMY

PRACTICE PAPER
Question 1a
A star has a luminosity that is known to be 4.8 × 1029 W. A scientist observing this star finds that the radiant flux intensity of
light received on Earth from the star is 2.6 nW m–2.
(i)
Name the term used to describe an astronomical object that has known luminosity.
[1]
(ii)
Determine the distance of the star from Earth.

distance = ....................................... m [2]

[3 marks]

Question 1b
The Sun has a surface temperature of 5800 K. The wavelength λ max of light for which the maximum rate of emission occurs
from the Sun is 500 nm.
The scientist observing the star in (a) finds that the wavelength for which the maximum rate of emission occurs from the star
is 430 nm.
(i)
Show that the surface temperature of the star in (a) is approximately 6700 K. Explain your reasoning.
[2]
(ii)
Use the information in (a) and (b)(i) to determine the radius of the star.

radius = .................................... m [2]

[4 marks]
Question 2a
Table 1.1 summarises some information about four stars in the constellation Cygnus.
Table 1.1
Name Colour Luminosity / LSun
Aljanah orange 62
Deneb blue-white 196 000
Fawaris blue 155
Sadr yellow-white 33 000
Identify the star in Table 1.1 with

(i)
the highest surface temperature,
[1]
(ii)
the lowest surface temperature,
[1]
(iii)
the largest radius.
[1]
[3 marks]

Question 2b
Fig. 1.2 shows the rate of emission from two of the stars, Sadr and Aljanah, plotted against wavelength.

Fig. 1.2
Explain how the curves in Fig. 1.2 can be used to determine the surface temperature of the stars.
[3 marks]
Question 2c
The surface temperature of Aljanah is known to be 4700 K.
Determine the surface temperature of Sadr.
[3 marks]

Question 2d
Calculate the radius of Sadr in units of solar radius RSun.
Radius of the sun, RSun = 6.96 × 108 m
Luminosity of the Sun, LSun = 3.83 × 1026 W
[2 marks]
Question 3a
State what is meant by the luminosity of a star.
[1 mark]

Question 3b
In a comparison of two stars, A and B, the following data was collected
Surface temperature of star A = 25 000 K
Surface temperature of star B = 4300 K
The radius of star B was determined to be 1.1 × 105 times larger than the radius of star A.
Calculate the ratio
luminosity of star B
luminosity of star A

[3 marks]

Question 3c
The wavelength λmax of light for which the maximum rate of emission occurs from the Sun is 5.00 × 10–7 m.
The surface temperature of the Sun is 5770 K.
Determine the wavelengths of light for which the maximum rate of emission occurs from stars A and B.
[3 marks]
Question 3d
Fig. 1.1 shows the variation of rate of emission against wavelength for the Sun.

Fig. 1.1
On Fig. 1.1, sketch the variation of rate of emission against wavelength for stars A and B.

[4 marks]