Example 1:

Two stars, “star Z” and “star Y”, are at the same

distance. If star Z is three times more luminous than
star Y, how does their apparent brightness compare?
 
𝐿
Z will be 3x more luminous than Y 𝑎 . 𝑏 .= 2
4𝜋 𝑑
 Example 2:
You measure the same apparent brightness for two
stars, V and W. You also know that V is three times
as distant as W. Therefore V is ____ W.
A three times as luminous as
L
B one-third as luminous as a.b. = 2
4 pd
C nine times as luminous as
D one-ninth as luminous as
E the same luminosity as  
 Your turn! Work together in a group. Write out your work.
Two stars, X and Q, have the same Luminosity but X is twice
as distant as Q. Therefore X will appear*
*apparent brightness

A two times as bright as Q

B one-half as bright as Q  
𝐿
C four times as bright as Q 𝑎 . 𝑏 .= 2
4𝜋 𝑑
D one-fourth as bright as Q
E the same brightness as Q
Two stars, J and K, have the same Luminosity but J
is only half as distant as K. Which star appears
brighter, and by how much? Star J will appear…

A two times as bright as K

B one-half as bright as K
 
𝐿
𝑎 . 𝑏 .= 2
C four times as bright as K 4𝜋 𝑑
D one-fourth as bright as K
E the same brightness as K
The stars Antares and Mima each have
the same luminosity. Antares is cooler
than Mima. Which star is larger?
A Antares
B Mima
C Both stars are the same size
D There is insufficient information to
determine this
 You observe two stars with the same
luminosity and determine that one is larger
than the other. Which star is hotter?

A The smaller star

B The larger star
C Both stars are the same temperature
D There is insufficient information to determine this
 Below are two star photos taken six months apart and laid atop one
another so the background stars (circles) line up. Two nearby stars are
shown. Which of these nearby stars is closer?
A Star A
B Star B
C They are the same
Which of the following stars is closest to us?

parallax angle (p)

A 0.29 1
d=
B 0.2 p
C 0.04
D 0.38

 
Which of the following stars is farthest from us?
parallax angle (p)
A 0.29 1
B 0.2 d=
p
C 0.04
D 0.38

 
 Star Alpha is half as far away as Star Beta.
Therefore star Alpha’s parallax angle will be

A ½ as large as Star Beta’s

B ¼ as large as Star Beta’s
C Equal to Star Beta’s
D 2 times as large as Star Beta’s
E 4 times as large as Star Beta’s
 C Hertzsprung-Russell
B
Diagram

Which star is
D hottest?
A
Luminosity

Temperature
 C Hertzsprung-Russell
B
Diagram

Which star is
A
D
most luminous?
Luminosity

Temperature
 C Hertzsprung-Russell
B
Diagram

Which star is on
D
the Main
A Sequence?
Luminosity

E
(both D and E are)

Temperature
 C Hertzsprung-Russell
B
Diagram

Which star is
A
D
largest?
Luminosity

Temperature
 C Hertzsprung-Russell
B
Diagram

Which star is
A
D
smallest?
Luminosity

Temperature
 How would these change if the Sun had
more mass?

The pressure in the core: HIGHER

The rate of fusion in the core: HIGHER
The total brightness: HIGHER
How would these change if the Sun had
more mass?

The lifetime of the Sun SHORTER

The size of the Sun LARGER
The surface temperature of the Sun HOTTER
How would these change if the Sun had
LESS mass?

The lifetime of the Sun: LONGER

The size of the Sun: SMALLER
The surface temperature of the Sun: COOLER
 A Hertzsprung-Russell
B
Diagram

C Which star on the

main sequence has
the most mass?
Luminosity

Temperature
 A Hertzsprung-Russell
B
Diagram

Which star on the

C
main sequence will
have the longest
Luminosity

lifetime?
D

Temperature
What does it mean when a
cluster still has hot, bluish
main sequence stars?

(it’s still young; it formed recently

enough that those massive stars haven’t
had enough time to die out yet)