- #1
center o bass
- 560
- 2
I just read the following about the evolution of stars:
"When reaching point 2 in the HR-diagram, the radius of the star has
been increasing so much that the surface temperature is close to 2500 K
which is a lower possible limit. When reaching this limit, the dominant
mechanism of energy transport in the star changes from being radiation
to convection. Convection is much more efficient, the energy is released
at a much larger rate and the luminosity increases rapidly."
Two questions: why does convection start to dominate over radiation at 2500K, and why is convection -- in general -- a more efficient way of transporting energy than radiation?
"When reaching point 2 in the HR-diagram, the radius of the star has
been increasing so much that the surface temperature is close to 2500 K
which is a lower possible limit. When reaching this limit, the dominant
mechanism of energy transport in the star changes from being radiation
to convection. Convection is much more efficient, the energy is released
at a much larger rate and the luminosity increases rapidly."
Two questions: why does convection start to dominate over radiation at 2500K, and why is convection -- in general -- a more efficient way of transporting energy than radiation?