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Lagraaaange
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How would one get the energy production in a star if only given the mass of the star? Something involving mc^2 I suppose?
Stars aren't that simple. Brown dwarfs are different from yellow dwarfs are different from blue giants are different from red supergiants.Lagraaaange said:How would one get the energy production in a star if only given the mass of the star? Something involving mc^2 I suppose?
He could use the mass-luminosity equations?Orodruin said:There is no direct formula which you can use.
Those relations are approximations which apply only to stars on the Main Sequence. They do not cover a variety of other stars falling off the MS.Bandersnatch said:He could use the mass-luminosity equations?
You can, but only if you know m, which is the amount of mass being converted to energy by the star at a given instant.Lagraaaange said:My professor said one can use E=mc^2
Lagraaaange said:My professor said one can use E=mc^2
Beats me. If your professor knows something of which apparently no other astrophysicist is aware, he should publish a paper.Lagraaaange said:So how would one prepare for an exam question like this?
Mass is directly related to the energy production of a star. The more massive a star is, the more energy it produces. This is because a higher mass means there is more matter within the star, leading to higher pressure and temperature in the core, allowing for more fusion reactions to occur.
The main source of energy production in stars is nuclear fusion. This is the process in which hydrogen atoms fuse together to form helium, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. This energy is what powers the star and allows it to emit light and heat.
The energy production of a star changes over its lifetime as it goes through different stages. In the beginning, a star's energy production is primarily from hydrogen fusion. As it runs out of hydrogen fuel, it begins to fuse heavier elements like helium and carbon, producing more energy. Eventually, the star will run out of fuel and its energy production will decrease, leading to its death.
Yes, a star's energy production can change suddenly due to events like supernovae or other catastrophic events. These events can cause a sudden increase in energy production as a large amount of matter is fused and released, or a sudden decrease if the star is destroyed.
Besides mass, the chemical composition and age of a star can also affect its energy production. A star with a higher percentage of heavier elements will have a higher energy production as these elements can fuse more easily. The age of a star also plays a role, as older stars will have used up more of their fuel and have a lower energy production compared to younger stars.