Sci: 314 - Classifying Stars Lab (Independent)
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15
Investigative Questions
● What is the relationship between star color, temperature, luminosity, and size?
● How does the HR diagram classify stars?
● How does the amount of initial fuel in most stars explain their luminosity and color?
● Why does the temperature-luminosity correlation not apply to every star?
1. Thinking back to the demos and examples given in class: state a claim for how star
temperature affects color, provide evidence using an example or demo, and then
use scientific reasoning to explain why. 90-word max.
Claim (1 pt.)
As star temperature increases, color goes from red to orange to yellow to blue.
Evidence: Example or Demo (1 pt.)
In the demo, the yellow flame was relatively cooler and the blue flame was
relatively hotter.
Reasoning (explain the science) (1 pt.)
Blue has a shorter wavelength, which causes it to emit more energy
(temperature) compared to red.
2. Thinking back to the demos and examples given in class: state a claim for how star
temperature affects luminosity, provide evidence using an example or demo, and
then use scientific reasoning to explain why. 90-word max.
Claim (1 pt.)
For main sequence stars on the HR diagram, as temperature decreases,
luminosity decreases.
Evidence – Example or Demo (1 pt.)
In the demo, the dimmer 25 watt light bulb was relatively cooler compared to the
brighter 100 watt light bulb.
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Reasoning (explain the science) (1 pt.)
The temperature is the energy, so with a higher temperature, the star would be
emitting more energy, causing a higher luminosity.
Now examine how the size of stars can be determined using a star’s luminosity on the
HR Diagram.
3. Thinking back to the demos and examples given in class: state a claim for how star
size affects luminosity, provide evidence using an example or demo, and then use
scientific reasoning to explain why. 90-word max.
Claim (1 pt.)
For stars whose temperature remains constant, as size increases, luminosity
increases.
Evidence – Example or Demo (1 pt.)
In the demo, the little flame was dimmer than the larger flame.
Reasoning (explain the science) (1 pt.)
Small stars have less surface area and cause them to emit less energy compared
to the larger stars with greater surface area at the same time.
4. Identify the corner of the HR Diagram where the very largest stars are located.
Highlight the correct location. (1 pt.)
top-left top-right bottom-left bottom-right
5. Identify the half of the HR Diagram where the smallest stars are located.
Highlight the correct location. (1 pt.)
left-half right-half top-half bottom-half
Conclusion
Choose an outlier category of stars to answer the following investigative question:
How does the temperature-luminosity correlation (pattern) not apply to outliers
on the HR Diagram?
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Chosen Outlier Category Name: Red Supergiants
Construct an argument below:
● state a claim (state how the star does not fit into the main-sequence pattern),
● provide evidence (numerical data from the HR diagram - compare data from the
outlier category with data from the main-sequence category).
● explain using scientific reasoning (explain why luminosity is affected by factors
other than temperature). (4 pts)
The Red Supergiants does not fit into the main sequence pattern because their
sizes are a lot larger and they have high luminosity while they have a low
temperature.
The red stars in the main sequence have temperatures between 2500K to 5000K
and their luminosity are between 10-2L and 10-4L. The temperature of the Red
Supergiants are between 5000K to 2500K and their luminosity are between 104L
and 106L.
Though the temperature of the Red Supergiants and the red stars in the main
sequence are the same, the surface area of the Red Supergiants are greater than
the main sequence red stars, which cause it to have a higher rate of energy
compared to the smaller stars.
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