Unit 5 Zone 3: Hertzsprung-Russell Diagrams Mastery Check

How do astronomers determine a star's brightness, mass, distance, and age?

• By analyzing the star's color

• By measuring the star's temperature

• By observing the star's position on the H-R diagram

• By studying the star's spectral class

Which star in the Alpha Centauri star system is the largest?

• Alpha Centauri A

• Alpha Centauri B

• Alpha Centauri C

• Cannot be determined

Which star in the Alpha Centauri star system is the brightest?

• Cannot be determined

• Alpha Centauri C

• Alpha Centauri A

• Alpha Centauri B

Which star in the Alpha Centauri star system is the closest to Earth?

• Alpha Centauri C

• Alpha Centauri B

• Cannot be determined

• Alpha Centauri A

Which star in the Alpha Centauri star system is the oldest?

• Cannot be determined

• Alpha Centauri C

• Alpha Centauri B

• Alpha Centauri A

Rank the following from brightest to dimmest: Near car with headlights on, Far car with headlights on, Near car with high-beams on, Far car with high-beams on

• Far car with high-beams on, Near car with high-beams on, Near car with headlights on, Far car with headlights on

• Near car with high-beams on, Near car with headlights on, Far car with high-beams on, Far car with headlights on

• Far car with high-beams on, Near car with high-beams on, Far car with headlights on, Near car with headlights on

• Near car with high-beams on, Far car with high-beams on, Near car with headlights on, Far car with headlights on

What is the apparent brightness of a star?

• The brightness of a star as measured by its absolute magnitude

• The brightness of a star as measured by a telescope

• The brightness of a star as seen from a different star system

• The brightness of a star as seen from Earth

What is the absolute brightness of a star?

• The brightness of a star as measured by its apparent magnitude

• The brightness of a star as seen from Earth

• The brightness of a star as seen from a different star system

• The intrinsic brightness of a star

What determines a star's apparent brightness?

• Its mass and age

• Its spectral class and temperature

• Its absolute brightness and distance from Earth

• Its composition and luminosity

Which star has the highest apparent brightness in the universe?

• Cannot be determined

• Alpha Centauri A

• Rigel

• The Sun