Unit 17 Flashcards
are massive balls of gas and plasma that emit heat, light, ultraviolet rays, x-rays, and other forms of radiation throughout the entire universe
Stars
process where two or more atomic nuclei combine to form new and heavier atomic nuclei
nuclear fusion
Stars are defined and classified based on their physical characteristics such as
color and temperature, size, mass, and brightness.
indicates the surface temperature of the star
color
Stars having higher temperatures are
bluer in color
Stars having lower temperatures are
redder in color
are also temperature measurements, but it is based on the elements that they absorb
spectral types
order or decreasing temperature(spectral type)
O, B, A, F, G, K, and M
Stars that are much larger than the sun are referred to as
giant and supergiant stars
solar mass of 1
size of the sun
the star’s brightness as seen from Earth
apparent brightness or apparent magnitude (m) of a star
the brightness a star would have if all stars were located at a standard distance of 32.6 light-years or 10 parsecs from Earth
Absolute brightness or absolute magnitude (M)
