Lecture 1 Flashcards
(6 cards)
1
Q
What does an astronomical unit represent?
A
Average distance from the Earth to the Sun.
*approximately 1.496 x 10^11m
2
Q
What is the typical unit of distance used by astrophysicists and cosmologists?
A
light years and parsecs
3
Q
What wavelengths of light can be seen by the naked eye?
A
400 to 700 nms. Under high power, slightly more or less than this range can be seen
4
Q
What is a black body?
A
A body that absorbs all incoming radiation.
*radiation from this black body depends solely on temperature
5
Q
What is the luminosity of the sun and how is it calculated?
A
The luminosity is derived using the radiation formula and the resulting luminosity is 3.85x10^26
6
Q
What is the effective temperature of the sun?
A
5780 K
