Question 1

What is the physical difference between an eclipsing binary system and a spectroscopic binary system?

Accepted Answer

The only real difference is the tilt of

Question 2

You observe a binary star system and find that star 1 has a velocity of 20 m/s while star 2 has a velocity of 40 m/s. What is the ratio of masses of the two stars (M1/M2)? If you find that the separation of the two stars is 0.5 AU and the orbital period is 70 days, then what are the individual masses of the two stars?

Accepted Answer

The ratio of masses of stars in a binary

Question 3

Star A is a red star. Star B is a blue star. You are able to determine that both stars are the same size. Which star is brighter?

Accepted Answer

A)  Star A is brighter. 
B)  Star B is brighter. 
C)  They have the same brightness. 
D)  We also need to know the distance of the stars to determine their brightness. 
E)  Color is not related to brightness at all. 
A)  Star A is brighter. 
B)  Star B is brighter. 
C)  They have the same brightness. 
D)  We also need to know the distance of the stars to determine their brightness. 
E)  Color is not related to brightness at all.

Question 4

Two main-sequence stars have the same temperature. If star A is four times brighter than star B, then:

Accepted Answer

A)  star B is two times farther away than star A 
B)  star B is four times farther away than star A 
C)  star B is eight times farther away than star A 
D)  star B and star A lie at the same distance from us 
E)  it is impossible to determine their relative distances from the information given 
A)  star B is two times farther away than star A 
B)  star B is four times farther away than star A 
C)  star B is eight times farther away than star A 
D)  star B and star A lie at the same distance from us 
E)  it is impossible to determine their relative distances from the information given

Question 5

To measure the parallax of the most distant stars measurable, we would make two measurements of the star's position on the sky separated by:

Accepted Answer

A)  6 hours 
B)  12 hours 
C)  24 hours 
D)  6 months 
E)  12 months 
A)  6 hours 
B)  12 hours 
C)  24 hours 
D)  6 months 
E)  12 months

Question 6

Star A is a red star. Star B is a blue star. Which star is hotter?

Accepted Answer

A)  Star A is hotter. 
B)  Star B is hotter. 
C)  They are the same temperature. 
D)  We also need to know the luminosities of the stars to determine their temperatures. 
E)  Color is not related to temperature at all. 
A)  Star A is hotter. 
B)  Star B is hotter. 
C)  They are the same temperature. 
D)  We also need to know the luminosities of the stars to determine their temperatures. 
E)  Color is not related to temperature at all.

Question 7

Binary star systems are extremely useful in studying stars because they allow us to determine stars' masses.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

What is the approximate luminosity of a 0.5 M $\odot$  main-sequence star?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.09 L $\odot$ 
B)  0.01 L $\odot$ 
C)  0.2 L $\odot$ 
D)  0.5 L $\odot$ 
E)  0.7 L $\odot$ 
A)  0.09 L $\odot$ 
B)  0.01 L $\odot$ 
C)  0.2 L $\odot$ 
D)  0.5 L $\odot$ 
E)  0.7 L $\odot$

What is the physical difference between an eclipsing binary system and a spectroscopic binary system?

Star A is a red star. Star B is a blue star. You are able to determine that both stars are the same size. Which star is brighter?

Two main-sequence stars have the same temperature. If star A is four times brighter than star B, then:

To measure the parallax of the most distant stars measurable, we would make two measurements of the star's position on the sky separated by:

Star A is a red star. Star B is a blue star. Which star is hotter?

Binary star systems are extremely useful in studying stars because they allow us to determine stars' masses.

What is the approximate luminosity of a 0.5 M _$\odot$ main-sequence star?

Why Learn Astronomy

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Gravity and Orbits

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquid the Giant Planets

Planetary Adornmentsmoons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Our Starthe Sun

Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

The Expanding Universe

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

Modern Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

Filters

Exam 13: Taking the Measure of Stars

What is the physical difference between an eclipsing binary system and a spectroscopic binary system?

Star A is a red star. Star B is a blue star. You are able to determine that both stars are the same size. Which star is brighter?

Two main-sequence stars have the same temperature. If star A is four times brighter than star B, then:

To measure the parallax of the most distant stars measurable, we would make two measurements of the star's position on the sky separated by:

Star A is a red star. Star B is a blue star. Which star is hotter?

Binary star systems are extremely useful in studying stars because they allow us to determine stars' masses.

What is the approximate luminosity of a 0.5 M ⊙\odot⊙ main-sequence star?

Why Learn Astronomy

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Gravity and Orbits

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquid the Giant Planets

Planetary Adornmentsmoons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Our Starthe Sun

Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

The Expanding Universe

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

Modern Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

Filters

What is the approximate luminosity of a 0.5 M _$\odot$ main-sequence star?