Star Brightness and Size
Learning Objective
I can compare the brightness and size of different stars.
Key Concepts
Stars create energy in their core through a process called nuclear fusion, where hydrogen molecules smash together to create helium.
Luminosity is a star's true brightness, measuring how much energy it shines from its surface, while apparent brightness is how bright a star appears from Earth.
A star's apparent brightness depends on its distance from Earth, not just its size or power, because closer stars appear brighter.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 5 practice questions to reinforce learning.
View questions preview
1. What process creates the light and heat that stars emit?
2. Which of the following describes luminosity?
3. Explain why a smaller star can sometimes have more power (luminosity) than a bigger star.
...and 2 more questions
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