Standard candles

State what the luminosity of a star means.

May/June 2024

State the meaning of the luminosity of a star.

May/June 2024

State Wien’s displacement law, and identify each symbol that you use.

Oct/Nov 2023

Fig. 9.1 illustrates how the radiant flux intensity $F$ from star X changes with $d^{-2}$, where $d$ is the observer’s distance from the star. Fig. 9.2 illustrates how the rate of emission $P$ of radiation from star X and the Sun varies with wavelength $\lambda$. The Sun has a surface temperature of 5770 K.

Oct/Nov 2025

Fig. 9.1 plots radiant flux intensity $F$ against $d^{-2}$ for star X, where $d$ is the observer's distance from the star. Fig. 9.2 plots the emission rate $P$ of radiation against wavelength $\lambda$ for star X and for the Sun. The Sun's surface temperature is 5770 K.

Oct/Nov 2025