Finding Sizes: Shoes, Waists, and Stars

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Questions and Answers

What is the main reason astronomers struggle to find the size of a star?

  • Stars are very far away, appearing as points of light even through telescopes. (correct)
  • Stars are too small to measure accurately with current technology.
  • Stars have irregular shapes that make determining their size challenging.
  • Stars emit dangerous radiation that prevents close measurements.

What is luminosity in relation to a star?

  • The distance of a star from Earth.
  • The brightness of a star as seen from Earth.
  • The physical size of a star.
  • The total energy a star radiates in one second. (correct)

Why is it impossible to measure the size of a star with a regular ruler?

  • Stars emit heat that would melt any standard ruler.
  • Stars have irregular shapes that cannot be measured accurately.
  • Stars are intangible and cannot be touched directly.
  • The distance to stars makes using a ruler impractical for measurement. (correct)

What is the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram used for in astronomy?

<p>To determine the relationship between a star's temperature and luminosity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do stars appear as points of light even through telescopes?

<p>The immense distance to stars prevents seeing their true size. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What information do astronomers need to determine the size of a star?

<p>Temperature and brightness. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it challenging to measure the size of stars directly?

<p>Stars appear as mere points of light even through powerful telescopes. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main relationship shown by the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram?

<p>A star's size is directly proportional to its luminosity and surface temperature. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the main sequence on the H-R diagram is true?

<p>It includes the Sun and red dwarfs. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for the existence of cool, bright giants and supergiants in the upper right region of the H-R diagram?

<p>They have a low surface temperature but high luminosity due to their large size. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes white dwarfs on the H-R diagram?

<p>They are hot and have low luminosity due to their small size. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If stars were randomly distributed on the H-R diagram, what would it imply?

<p>There is no meaningful connection between a star's temperature and luminosity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the luminosity of a star compare to the luminosity of the Sun?

<p>It is measured relative to the Sun's luminosity. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate range of surface temperatures for giant stars on the H-R diagram?

<p>3,000 to 6,000 Kelvin (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the size of stars is true based on the information provided?

<p>The largest stars are about 1,000 times the diameter of the Sun. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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