Flashcard on Spectral Classification of Stars

Front

What is the main classification of stars on the HR diagram?

Back

Main Sequence stars make up the majority of stars on the HR diagram.

Front

What color are B-class stars in the spectral classification system?

Back

B-class stars are blue-white in color.

Front

How are stars classified in the spectral classification system?

Back

Stars are grouped by their temperature, color, and luminosity.

Front

Which class of stars is known to be relatively young and rare?

Back

B-class stars are relatively young and rare in the universe.

Front

What type of light do cooler stars emit more of?

Back

Cooler stars emit more red light.

Front

What is the temperature range for O-class stars?

Back

O-class stars have surface temperatures greater than 30,000 K.

Front

What is the significance of the Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram?

Back

The HR diagram is a scatter plot of stars showing the relationship between their absolute magnitudes or luminosities versus their stellar classifications or effective temperatures.

Front

What are the characteristics of G-class stars?

Back

G-class stars, like our Sun, are yellow and have surface temperatures between 5,300 K and 6,000 K.

Front

What is the primary factor that determines a star's position on the HR diagram?

Back

A star's position on the HR diagram is primarily determined by its temperature.

Front

What is the luminosity of a star?

Back

Luminosity is the total amount of energy emitted by a star per unit time.