M8 From the Universe to the Atom Flashcards
Luminosity
rate at which energy is radiated, same as power. P = E/t.
Apparent brightness (b)
the power of a star’s radiation received by an observer per unit area. Inverse square law. b = L/4d2 where d is distance to the star, L is luminosity (power).
Measuring apparent brightness
- CCD camera on a telescope. Each pixel produces a potential difference that depends on the rate at which photons are collected.
- Photoelectric photometer.
- Chemical emulsion photography.
Solar Luminosity
total power output of the Sun, L⊙ = 3.85 x 10^26 W.
Classification of stars based on
colour, temperature, distance, luminosity, spectral class.
Temperature of stars
high temperature - emit higher frequency radiation and have a colour on the blue side of the spectrum. Colder - redder.
Spectral class of stars
Decreasing temperature: hot to cold (blue white yellow red) OBAFGKM (Oh Be A Fine Guy Kiss Me).
Wien’s displacement law
lambda(max)= b/T for blackbody. T in Kelvin.
Blackbody Radiator
an object that, when in thermal equilibrium with its surroundings, absorbs all electromagnetic radiation incident upon it, and emits all EM radiation in a spectrum entirely based on its temperature. Radiation curves: wavelength x-axis, intensity (spectral radiance) y-axis
Hertzprung-Russell diagram
plots luminosity (in L⊙) and temperature of stars against each other, both with log scales. Decreasing temp scale (O to M class).
Stefan-Boltzmann law
L = AT4. L is luminosity (W), is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant = 5.67 x 10-8 Wm-2K, A is surface area, T is temperature (K).
Region A of stars: Main Sequence
long-term stable conditions. In the hydrogen-to-helium fusion phase. E.g. our Sun. Majority of stars are here.
Region B of stars: Red Giants
low temperature, more luminous than main sequence, large surface area. Finished fusing hydrogen.
Region C of stars: Supergiants
similar to B, red giants, but bigger.
Region D of stars: White dwarfs
very hot, less luminous than main sequence. Small. Final state, remnants of medium-sized main sequence stars.
Redshift
Doppler shift in light. Decrease in frequency. Increase is blueshift (e.g. Andromeda, think galaxy is not moving through space, the universe is expanding).
Occam’s Razor
Among different models, the one with the fewest assumptions should be favoured.
Cosmological Red Shift
Observed by Edwin Hubble, galaxies are red-shifted, moving away from us. The greater the relative velocity, the greater the redshift. Conclusion: the space-time of the universe expands. Hubble’s 1929 data showed linear relationship between recessional velocity and distance.
Hubble’s Law
Evidence for Big Bang theory. v = H0d. v is recessional velocity. D is distance.
H0 = 67.74 km/sMpc where Mpc is megaparsec.
1/H0 is the age of the universe.
Models for the expansion of the universe
- Static. Size is not changing (disproven).
- Flat. Expansion is slowing and may eventually stop in the far, far future.
- Closed. The universe will soon stop expanding and start contracting, leading to the ‘Big Crunch’.
- Open. Expanding at an accelerating rate and will continue to.
Pressure of gases in a star’s atmosphere
The thickness of absorption lines in a star’s spectrum gives an indication of the pressure of gases in the star’s atmosphere. Larger stars’ surface is further away from the core (inverse square law with gravitational force), therefore gas pressure on the surface is low.
Globular cluster
A spherical collection of stars that orbits a galactic core. Very tightly bound by gravity. Spherical shape, relatively high stellar densities toward their centres.
Open cluster
a group of up to a few thousand stars that were formed from the same giant molecular cloud and have roughly the same age.
Key stages in a star’s life
- Nebula, cloud of dust and gas.
- Protostar, formation of star possible, gravity is pulling in more material from surroundings.
- Main sequence star: starts nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium. When hydrogen fuel has been depleted, the core collapses.
3 options: 1 or less solar mass becomes a red giant, then a white dwarf. 1 to 3 solar mass becomes a red giant, then a neutron star/pulsar/supernova. >3 solar mass becomes a red supergiant, then a black hole.
Cepheid variables
1912, Henrietta Leavitt analysed a group of stars called Cepheid variables, whose apparent brightness changes periodically. She showed that the period was directly related to the star’s luminosity.
John Dalton 1803 atom model
solid sphere model, ‘billiard ball’ model.