Science 9: Stars

Characteristics of Stars:
 Mass
 Size
 Temperature
 Color
 Luminosity
Stars can be plotted using these characteristics on a chart or HR diagram.
Stars Mass and Composition:
Mass and Composition determine most of the properties of a star.
The more massive the star is, the greater the gravity the hotter and denser a star
must be.
Star Size:
The diameters of stars range from as little as 1/10 the sun’s diameter to hundreds of
times larger.
The mass of stars can be from less than 1/100 to 20 or more times that of our sun.
Stars over 50 times the sun’s mass is extremely rare.
Our sun is a medium-sized star.

Star Energy:
The enormous pressure and heat in a star’s core converts matter into energy.
Stars consist of controlled atomic reactions called nuclear fusion in which hydrogen
(nuclei) atoms fuse to form helium (nuclei) atoms.
During each step of the process, mass is lost and energy is released.
The energy released causes the star (sun) to shine and give the star its high
temperature.
Star Stability – the energy from fusion stabilizes a star by producing the outward
pressure needed to counteract the inward force of gravity.
FUSION > GRAVITY = EXPANSION
FUSION < GRAVITY = CONTRACTION
FUSION = GRAVITY = STABLE
Note: Stable Stars are plotted on the HR diagram.
Stars Temperature:
Stars in the sky show tinges of different colors which reveal the stars’ temperatures.
Blue Stars – hottest temperature
Red Stars – coolest temperature
Our sun is a yellow star having a surface temperature of about 5,500 °C.
Star Spectral Classification:
Astronomers place stars in spectral (color) class categories based on their surface
temperature.
The Spectral Class Letters are: OBAFGKM
OH BE A FINE GIRL KISS ME
Star colors from hottest to coolest:
O - Blue
B - Blue-white
A - White
F - Yellow White
G - Yellow
K - Orange
M – Red
CLASSIFICATION OF STARS:
Color Surface Temp. Examples Spectral Class
Blue 30,0000 up 10 Lacertae O
Blue – White 10,000 – 30,000 Rigel, Spica B
White 7,500 – 10,000 Vegas, Sirius A
Yellow – White 6,000 – 7,000 Canopus, Procyon F
Yellow 5,000 – 6,000 Sun, Capella G
Orange 3,500 – 5,000 Arcturus, Aldebaran K
Red 3500 down Betelegeuse, Antares M

Star Luminosity / Brightness:

The energy output from the surface of a star per second are measured in watts.
The brightness of a star depends upon the distance and its luminosity.
Stop and Think!
The star Rigel in Orion is about 60,000 times larger than our sun (distance)
Apparent Magnitude
The brightness of a star as it appears from Earth with the naked eye.
Magnitude numbers are bigger for faint stars,
Magnitude are negative for very bright stars.
Absolute Magnitude
The true brightness of a star if all stars were at a uniform distance from earth.
The absolute magnitude of stars is reported in comparison to our sun.
Ex. AM of Sun = 1
Less than AM < 1: Brighter than Sun
Greater than AM >1: Less bright than Sun
Apparent and Absolute Magnitudes for the Ten Brightest Stars in the Night Sky
The larger the negative magnitude a star has = brighter.
Larger positive magnitude = fainter the star.
Star Apparent M. Absolute M.
Sirius -1.44 1.45
Canopus -0.62 -5.53
Arcturus -0.05 -0.31
Rigel Kent -0.01 4.34
Vega 0.03 0.58
Capella 0.08 -0.48
Rigel 0.18 -6.69
Procyon 0.40 2.68
Betelgeuse 0.45 -5.14
Achernar 0.45 -2.77

The Hertzsprung – Russel Diagram

An H-R Diagram plots stars accoding to their luminosity and temperature (or spectral
class)
90% of stars occur along the main sequence.
Middle ages stable stars.
Main sequence runs from upper left to lower right.
Upper left stars are large, hot, luminous. Example: Blue Giants
Lower right stars are are small, cool, dim. Example: Red Dwards
Stars Mass
Position on H-R depends on mass.
The larger the amount of mass in a star, the more luminous it is.
Giants: more mass, more luminous
Dwarfs: less mass, less luminous
During its lifetime, a star will evolve on the H-R diagram depending on its mass.