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Performance Task
A Stellar View
- Explore
- Did You Know?
A Journey Through Space
A Journey Through Space
Use the Internet or another resource to find an equation for luminosity in terms of apparent brightness and the distance of a star from Earth. Then use the formula for the surface area of a sphere to explain why the luminosity equation makes sense. Show how you can find the distance to each star on the Explore tab given the star's luminosity and apparent brightness.
Use the Internet to find the luminosity and the distance of a star other than those shown on the Explore tab. What is the apparent brightness of the star?
Did You Know?
- When initially formed, all stars are composed of the same material: about 75% hydrogen, 25% helium, and other trace elements.
- Outward light pressure generated by nuclear fusion at the core of a star prevents the gravitational collapse of the star.
- As a red giant star nears the end of its life, it increases in luminosity by a factor of 1000.
Find Out More – Search Topics
- Luminosity of a star
- Apparent brightness of a star
- Nuclear fusion in a star