Stellar Physics [73 marks]
1. [Maximum mark: 1]
Which is correct for a black-body radiator?
A. The power it emits from a unit surface area depends on the
temperature only.
B. It has an albedo of 1.
C. It emits monochromatic radiation whose wavelength depends on
the temperature only.
D. It emits radiation of equal intensity at all wavelengths. [1]
2. [Maximum mark: 11]
The data for the star Eta Aquilae A are given in the table.
L⊙ is the luminosity of the Sun and M⊙ is the mass of the Sun.
(a) Show by calculation that Eta Aquilae A is not on the main
sequence. [2]
(b(i)) Estimate, in pc, the distance to Eta Aquilae A using the parallax
angle in the table. [1]
(b(ii)) Estimate, in pc, the distance to Eta Aquilae A using the
luminosity in the table, given that L⊙ = 3. 83 × 10
26
W. [3]
(c) Suggest why your answers to (b)(i) and (b)(ii) are different. [2]
(d) Eta Aquilae A is a Cepheid variable. Explain why the brightness
of Eta Aquilae A varies. [3]
3. [Maximum mark: 3]
(a) Show that the apparent brightness b ∝
AT
4
, where d is the
2
d
distance of the object from Earth, T is the surface temperature
of the object and A is the surface area of the object. [1]
(b) Two of the brightest objects in the night sky seen from Earth are
the planet Venus and the star Sirius. Explain why the equation
4
is applicable to Sirius but not to Venus.
AT
b ∝
d
2
[2]
4. [Maximum mark: 2]
In 2017, two neutron stars were observed to merge, forming a black
hole. The material released included chemical elements produced by
the r process of neutron capture. Describe two characteristics of the
elements produced by the r process. [2]
5. [Maximum mark: 13]
The data for the star Eta Aquilae A are given in the table.
L⊙ is the luminosity of the Sun and M⊙ is the mass of the Sun.
(a) Show by calculation that Eta Aquilae A is not on the main
sequence. [2]
(b(i)) Estimate, in pc, the distance to Eta Aquilae A using the parallax
angle in the table. [1]
(b(ii)) Estimate, in pc, the distance to Eta Aquilae A using the
luminosity in the table, given that L⊙ = 3. 83 × 10
26
W. [3]
(c) Suggest why your answers to (b)(i) and (b)(ii) are different. [2]
(d) Eta Aquilae A is a Cepheid variable. Explain why the brightness
of Eta Aquilae A varies. [3]
(e) Eta Aquilae A was on the main sequence before it became a
variable star. Compare, without calculation, the time Eta
Aquilae A spent on the main sequence to the total time the Sun
is likely to spend on the main sequence. [2]
6. [Maximum mark: 2]
Eta Cassiopeiae A and B is a binary star system located in the constellation
Cassiopeia.
(a) Distinguish between a constellation and a stellar cluster.
[2]
7. [Maximum mark: 14]
Eta Cassiopeiae A and B is a binary star system located in the constellation
Cassiopeia.
(a) Distinguish between a constellation and a stellar cluster.
[2]
The following data are available.
Apparent brightness of Eta Cassiopeiae A = 1.1 × 10–9 Wm–2
Apparent brightness of Eta Cassiopeiae B = 5.4 × 10–11 Wm–2
Luminosity of the Sun, L⊙ = 3.8 × 1026 W
(b(i)) The peak wavelength of radiation from Eta Cassiopeiae A is 490
nm. Show that the surface temperature of Eta Cassiopeiae A is
about 6000 K.
[2]
(b(ii)) The surface temperature of Eta Cassiopeiae B is 4100 K.
Determine the ratio
radius
radius
of
of
the
the
Eta
Eta
Cassiopeiae A
Cassiopeiae B
. [3]
(b(iii)) The distance of the Eta Cassiopeiae system from the Earth is 1.8
× 1017 m. Calculate, in terms of L⊙, the luminosity of Eta
Cassiopeiae A. [2]
A Hertzsprung–Russell (HR) diagram is shown.
(c(i)) On the HR diagram, draw the present position of Eta
Cassiopeiae A. [1]
(c(ii)) State the star type of Eta Cassiopeiae A.
[1]
(c(iii)) Calculate the ratio mass of Eta Cassiopeiae A
.
mass of the Sun [1]
(c(iv)) Deduce the final evolutionary state of Eta Cassiopeiae A.
[2]
8. [Maximum mark: 7]
(a) Proxima Centauri is a main sequence star with a mass of 0.12
solar masses.
lif etime on main sequence of Proxima Centauri
Estimate lif etime on main sequence of Sun
. [2]
(b) Describe why iron is the heaviest element that can be produced
by nuclear fusion processes inside stars. [2]
(c) Discuss one process by which elements heavier than iron are
formed in stars. [3]
9. [Maximum mark: 7]
The Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram shows several star types. The luminosity of
the Sun is L☉.
(a) Identify, on the HR diagram, the position of the Sun. Label the
position S. [1]
(b) Suggest the conditions that will cause the Sun to become a red
giant. [3]
(c) Outline why the Sun will maintain a constant radius after it
becomes a white dwarf. [1]
(d) During its evolution, the Sun is likely to be a red giant of surface
temperature 3000 K and luminosity 104 L☉. Later it is likely to be
a white dwarf of surface temperature 10 000 K and luminosity
10-4 L☉. Calculate the radius of the Sun as a white dwarf
radius of the Sun as a red giant
. [2]
10. [Maximum mark: 8]
(ai) Outline the processes that produce the change of luminosity
with time of Cepheid variables. [2]
(aii) Explain how Cepheid variables are used to determine distances. [2]
The following data are available for the Cepheid variable δ-Cephei.
Peak luminosity = 7.70 × 1029 W
Distance from Earth = 273 pc
Peak wavelength of light = 4.29 × 10–7 m
(bi) Determine the peak apparent brightness of δ-Cephei as
observed from Earth. [2]
(bii) Calculate the peak surface temperature of δ-Cephei. [1]
(c) Astronomers claim to know the properties of distant stars.
Outline how astronomers can be certain that their
measurement methods yield correct information. [1]
11. [Maximum mark: 5]
(a.i) Describe the mechanism of formation of type I a supernovae. [2]
(a.ii) Describe the mechanism of formation of type II supernovae. [1]
(b) Suggest why type I a supernovae were used in the study that
led to the conclusion that the expansion of the universe is
accelerating. [2]
© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2025
