Scribd
Upload
16 views2 pages

Betelgeuse and Sun: Stellar Calculations

The document discusses the application of Wien's Law, luminosity, and flux calculations for Betelgeuse and the Sun. It provides formulas for calculating peak wavelength, luminosity, and distance based on temperature and radius. The document includes specific tasks to find these values for both stars, emphasizing the importance of unit conversions and comparisons.

Uploaded by

enormouschigga
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
16 views2 pages

Betelgeuse and Sun: Stellar Calculations

The document discusses the application of Wien's Law, luminosity, and flux calculations for Betelgeuse and the Sun. It provides formulas for calculating peak wavelength, luminosity, and distance based on temperature and radius. The document includes specific tasks to find these values for both stars, emphasizing the importance of unit conversions and comparisons.

Uploaded by

enormouschigga
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

WIEN’S LAW: λpeak = 3 x 106[nm * K] / T[K]

LUMINOSITY: L = σT44πR2, where σ = 5.67 x 10-8 W / [m2 * K4]​


FLUX: F = L / (4πd2)

1.​ Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star in the constellation Orion (my favorite!).
It has an effective temperature T ~ 3600 K and a radius R ~ 5.19 x 108 km.
a.​ Using Wien’s law, find the peak wavelength of Betelgeuse’s spectrum.
Where does it fall on the electromagnetic spectrum? (Hint: converting your
answer from nanometers to meters may help you think about this.)​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​

b.​ Calculate the luminosity of Betelgeuse (hint: check the units on the radius
I gave you compared to the ones in σ!).​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​

c.​ Betelgeuse is a variable star, which means its observed flux actually
changes with time. For our purposes, however, we can just say that ​
F ~ 6.78 x 10-8 W m-2. Using this and the luminosity you just calculated,
calculate the distance to Betelgeuse.
WIEN’S LAW: λpeak = 3 x 106[nm * K] / T[K]
LUMINOSITY: L = σT44πR2, where σ = 5.67 x 10-8 W / [m2 * K4]​
FLUX: F = L / (4πd2)

2.​ Now let’s do some math with our own Sun! It has an effective temperature
of T ~ 5800 K and a radius R ~ 6.96 x 108 m.
a.​ Using Wien’s law, find the peak wavelength of the Sun’s spectrum. Where
does it fall on the electromagnetic spectrum? (Hint: converting your
answer from nanometers to meters may help you think about this.)​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​

b.​ Calculate the luminosity of the Sun, and find the ratio of the Sun’s
luminosity to the luminosity of Betelgeuse you calculated earlier.​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​

c.​ We know that the Sun is 1 AU away from us, or ~1.50 x 108 km. Using the
luminosity you just found and this distance, calculate the flux we receive
from the Sun in W m-2.

You might also like