Option E: Astrophysics definitions

1. absolute magnitude (M): the apparent magnitude a star would have if observed from a
distance of 10 pc
2. apparent brightness (b): the received energy per second per unit area of detector, b = L /
4d
3. apparent magnitude (m): A measure of brightness of a star as seen from Earth in a relative
system of classification. The higher the numerical value of m, the dimmer the star. An
increase in m by 1 unit implies a DECREASE in b by a factor of 5100 2.51.
4. Big Bang model: the theory according to which space, time, matter and energy were all
created at a singular point some 13~14 billion years ago
5. binary star system: two stars orbiting a common centre
6. cepheid variable: A star whose luminosity changes periodically due to contractions and
expansions of its surface. There is a definite period of variation of the luminosity and the
peak luminosity. Thus, knowledge of the period gives the peak luminosity L which, together
with the known peak apparent brightness b, gives the distance d through b = L / 4d.
7. Chandrasekhar limit: the largest mass a white dwarf can have is about 1.4 solar masses
8. cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB): EM radiation in the microwave region that
fills the universe. It has a blackbody spectrum corresponding to a temp of about 2.7 K. It is
the remnant of the high temps at the time of the Big Bang and provides one of the strongest
pieces of evidence in favour of the Big Bang model.
9. critical density: In classical cosmology, the density c of the universe for which the expansion
continues forever at a slowing rate and stops after an infinite amount of time. It separates a
universe that will expand for ever (an open universe, < c) from one that will re-collapse (a
closed universe, > c). A universe with a density equal to the critical density is called flat.
10. dark matter: Matter that is too cold to radiate, and so cannot be seen. It has been invoked to
solve the puzzle of the missing mass of the universe. As much as 90% of the mass of the
universe may be in the form of dark matter.
11. HR (Hertzprung-Russell) diagram: a plot of stars according to luminosity (y-axis) versus temp
(x-axis, temp increasing to the left), or M versus spectral class
12. Hubble constant: the slope of a graph of galaxy speed vs. distance
13. Hubble time: the inverse of the Hubble constant, giving an estimate for the age of the
universe
14. Hubble's law: distant galaxies are moving away from Earth with a speed v that is
proportional to their distance d from earth; v = Hd, where H is the Hubble constant
15. luminosity: The amount of energy radiated by a star per second, i.e. the power radiated by
the star. Luminosity depends on the surface temp T and surface area A of the star. Given by
L = AT. The constant is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant.
16. magnitude-distance relation: the equation relating a star's apparent magnitude m to its
absolute magnitude M and distance d (in pc): m - M = 5 log(d / 10)
17. main sequence: Stars undergoing nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium. They lie on a strip
on the HR diagram from top left to bottom right.
18. mass-luminosity relation: The relation between the luminosity and the mass of a main
sequence star, L M, where 3 < n < 4. It can be used to explain why massive stars spend
little time on the main sequence.
19. neutron star: An end stage in the evolution of high-mass stars. A collapsed star composed
almost entirely of neutrons whose degeneracy pressure balances the inward pressure due to
gravity. It is very dense and often has a very strong magnetic field and rotates (pulsars).
20. Olber's paradox: The night sky would be bright if there were an infinite number of stars in an
eternal universe. In fact (1) there is a finite number of stars and (2) they will not live forever,
to the night sky is dark.
21. Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit: The largest mass a neutron star can have is about 2-3 solar
masses. The uncertainty in this limit comes from the fact that the equation of state of the
matter inside a neutron star is not precisely known.
22. parallax method: A method for measuring the distances to nearby stars that relies on the
fact that a star appears displaced relative to the background of distant stars when viewed
from two different positions in space. Satellites orbit outside the Earth's atmosphere can
measure distances up to almost 1000 pc in this way.
23. planetary nebula: the ejection of mass from an exploding red giant star
24. pulsars: rotating neutrons stars emitting radio waves
25. spectral class: A classification of stars according to surface temp and colour. The classes are
OBAFGKM, with O being hot and blue, and M being cool and red. Our sun is a class-G star
(yellow-orange at 6000 K).
26. spectroscopic parallax: A method for measuring the distance to a main-sequence star. It
consists of determining the star's surface temp (or spectral class) from its spectrum using the
Wien displacement law. Using this, its luminosity L (or absolute magnitude M) can be
estimated from the HR diagram. Its apparent brightness b can be measured, allowing the
determination of the distance, through b = L / 4d.
27. stellar evolution: The evolution of a star from its birth to its life on the main sequence, then
to its life as a red (super)giant, and finally to its death. If the star is not too massive (under
10 solar masses), a planetary nebula ejects most of the mass of the star and leaves behind a
dense, hot core (a white dwarf) of max. mass 1.4 solar masses (Chand. limit). If the star's
mass is more massive, a supernova ejects most of the star's mass, leaving behind a neutron
star of max. mass about 3 solar masses (O-V limit). If the star is even more massive, it ends
up as a black hole.
28. supernova: the ejection of mass from an exploding supergiant star
29. white dwarf: An end stage in the evolution of low-mass stars. It is a stable star in which the
degeneracy pressure of electrons balances the inward pressure due to gravity.
30. Wien displacement law: The at which most of the energy from a star is emitted is related
to surface temp through T = 2.90 10 K m, which implies that the higher the temp, the
lower the at which most of the energy is emitted. The peak determines the colour of the
star; thus there is a connection between the colour and the surface temp of the star.