How Do We Know What Stars Are Made Of?

The video explores the historical journey of understanding stars, highlighting the pivotal role of Cecilia Payne. It covers her biography, her groundbreaking work in stellar spectra, and her discovery that stars are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium. Despite initial skepticism, her findings were later confirmed, significantly advancing stellar physics. The video also discusses the broader impact of her work and her legacy as a trailblazer for women in science.

What was the primary mystery about stars that scientists were trying to solve 100 years ago?

• The age of the stars

• The number of stars in the universe

• The composition and energy source of stars

• The distance of stars from Earth

What inspired Cecilia Payne to switch her focus from biology to physics?

• A book on quantum mechanics

• A lecture by Sir Arthur Eddington

• A conversation with Albert Einstein

• A visit to an observatory

What is the significance of absorption lines in the spectrum of the Sun?

• They indicate the age of the Sun

• They measure the Sun's gravitational pull

• They reveal the elements present in the Sun

• They show the distance of the Sun from Earth

How did Cecilia Payne use quantum mechanics in her research?

• To calculate the distance of stars

• To determine the temperature and composition of stars

• To predict the future positions of stars

• To measure the brightness of stars

What was the prevailing belief about the Sun's composition before Cecilia Payne's discovery?

• The Sun was mostly empty space

• The Sun was composed of the same elements as Earth

• The Sun was primarily made of carbon

• The Sun was made mostly of iron

What did Cecilia Payne discover about the most abundant element in the Sun?

• Oxygen is the most abundant element

• Hydrogen is the most abundant element

• Carbon is the most abundant element

• Helium is the most abundant element

Why was Cecilia Payne advised to downplay her findings in her thesis?

• Her results contradicted the scientific consensus

• Her thesis was too lengthy

• Her calculations were incorrect

• Her findings were already known

What additional contribution did Cecilia Payne make in her thesis besides discovering the Sun's composition?

• She devised a way to calculate star temperatures

• She developed a method to calculate star distances

• She created a new model of the solar system

• She invented a new type of telescope

What major theory did Arthur Eddington propose that was crucial to understanding stars?

• The theory of nuclear fusion

• The theory of relativity

• The theory of planetary motion

• The theory of black holes

What was Cecilia Payne's significant achievement at Harvard University?

• She founded a new observatory

• She became the first female professor and department chair

• She discovered a new planet

• She won a Nobel Prize