How Does Radiation Intensity from a Star Change with Distance?

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SUMMARY

The intensity of radiation emitted by a star decreases with the square of the distance from the star's center, as described by the equation I = I₀ / (4 π r²). At the star's surface, the intensity is given by I = 4 π σ T⁴ Rₛₜₐᵣ², where σ is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant and T is the temperature of the star. As one moves away from the star, the intensity can be expressed as I = 4 π σ T⁴ (Rₛₜₐᵣ + r)². This relationship is fundamental to understanding radiation intensity from any hot sphere.

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stunner5000pt
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but somehow my brain is not working...
how does the intensity of radiation emitted by a star (but really any hot sphere, really) vary with distance from the star?

at the surface the intensity is
I = 4 \pi \sigma T^4 R_{star}^2

as we move away
I = 4 \pi \sigma T^4 (R_{star} + r)^2 where r is the distnace from the star to some point.

is that how the intensity varies?
Square of the sitance from the center of the star?
 
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I think the equation that you want might be I = \frac{I_0}{4 \pi r^2}, but I'm not entirely sure if that is what you are looking for.
 
stunner5000pt said:
but somehow my brain is not working...
how does the intensity of radiation emitted by a star (but really any hot sphere, really) vary with distance from the star?

at the surface the intensity is
I = 4 \pi \sigma T^4 R_{star}^2

as we move away
I = 4 \pi \sigma T^4 (R_{star} + r)^2 where r is the distnace from the star to some point.

is that how the intensity varies?
Square of the sitance from the center of the star?
I = 4 \pi \sigma T^4 R_{\rm star}^4/ (R_{star} + r)^2
 

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