Figuring out mass of a star based on diameter

AI Thread Summary
The mass of a star can be estimated from its diameter using the equation R=M^{0.8} for main sequence stars, where R represents diameter. However, this relationship does not apply to non-main sequence stars, such as red giants and supergiants. For example, while the Sun's mass remains constant as it expands into a red giant, its radius significantly increases. Similarly, Betelgeuse has a mass 14 times that of the Sun but a radius 630 times greater. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for accurately determining stellar mass across different types of stars.
NOBARTHOLEM
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
How do you find the mass of a star based on its diameter? are there other factors that play into it and other things like that or is it just an equation?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
For main sequence stars you can use

R=M^{.8}

with R being the diameter. For non-main sequence stars, this doesn't hold however. For instance, when our Sun expands into a red giant, its mass will not increase but its radius will do so greatly. Another Example is Betelgeuse, a super giant with a mass 14 times that of the Sun and a radius 630 times as much.
 
i can figure out that non main sequence stars hold the same mass because its just less matter per square mile or sqaure yoctometer or whatever measure u want to use.
 
TL;DR Summary: In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect alien signals, it will further expand the radius of the so-called silence (or rather, radio silence) of the Universe. Is there any sense in this or is blissful ignorance better? In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect...
Thread 'Could gamma-ray bursts have an intragalactic origin?'
This is indirectly evidenced by a map of the distribution of gamma-ray bursts in the night sky, made in the form of an elongated globe. And also the weakening of gamma radiation by the disk and the center of the Milky Way, which leads to anisotropy in the possibilities of observing gamma-ray bursts. My line of reasoning is as follows: 1. Gamma radiation should be absorbed to some extent by dust and other components of the interstellar medium. As a result, with an extragalactic origin, fewer...
This thread is dedicated to the beauty and awesomeness of our Universe. If you feel like it, please share video clips and photos (or nice animations) of space and objects in space in this thread. Your posts, clips and photos may by all means include scientific information; that does not make it less beautiful to me (n.b. the posts must of course comply with the PF guidelines, i.e. regarding science, only mainstream science is allowed, fringe/pseudoscience is not allowed). n.b. I start this...

Similar threads

Back
Top