EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT
Earn 100

A red giant is a star bigger than our Sun. Explain how the surface of a red giant star can be cooler than the Sun, yet have a luminosity much greater than the Sun.

Important Questions on Astronomy and Cosmology

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT
An astronomer has determined the surface temperature of a white dwarf star to be 7800 K and its radius as 8.5×106 m. Calculate the luminosity of this star.
EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

The surface temperature T of a star depends on the wavelength λmax at the peak intensity of the emitted radiation from the star. The T against λmax graph for a cluster of stars in our galaxy is shown.

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Use the graph to show Wien's displacement law is obeyed.

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

The surface temperature T of a star depends on the wavelength λmax at the peak intensity of the emitted radiation from the star. The T against λmax graph for a cluster of stars in our galaxy is shown.

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(ii) Estimate the surface temperature of a star with λmax=400±10 nm. In your answer, include the absolute uncertainty.

 

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

Light from a galaxy is passed through a diffraction grating. The diagram shows part of the emission spectrum.

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The strong emission spectral line has wavelength 662 nm.

Calculate the energy of a photon of wavelength 662 nm.

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

Light from a galaxy is passed through a diffraction grating. The diagram shows part of the emission spectrum.

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The strong emission spectral line has wavelength 662 nm.

Explain how a spectral line is produced by electrons within atoms.

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

Light from a galaxy is passed through a diffraction grating. The diagram shows part of the emission spectrum.

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The strong emission spectral line has wavelength 662 nm.

 In the laboratory, the same spectral line has wavelength 656 nm.

(i) Calculate the speed of the galaxy.

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

Light from a galaxy is passed through a diffraction grating. The diagram shows part of the emission spectrum.

Question Image

The strong emission spectral line has wavelength 662 nm.

(c) In the laboratory, the same spectral line has wavelength 656 nm.

(ii) State the direction of travel of the galaxy.

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

Light from a galaxy is passed through a diffraction grating. The diagram shows part of the emission spectrum.

Question Image

The strong emission spectral line has wavelength 662 nm.

State and explain what the wavelength of the same spectral line would be for a much more distant galaxy.