The luminosity of a star

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Consider the concept being tested: the intrinsic brightness, or luminosity, of a star.
Option 1: 'is determined only by its temperature.' While temperature (and thus spectral type) influences luminosity, the star’s size (radius) also plays a crucial role via the Stefan–Boltzmann law. Therefore, this statement is incomplete and misleading.
Option 2: 'is the rate at which it radiates energy.' This correctly captures luminosity as an intrinsic energy-output rate of the star, independent of how far away it is. It aligns with the standard definition in astrophysics.
Option 3: 'can be measured only if the star is 10 parsecs away.' This is incorrect because one can determine luminosity from the star’s distance and observed flux, but it is not restricted to a specific distance like 10 parsecs. The luminosity is an intrinsic property, not a distance requirement.
Option 4: 'depends upon the distance to the star.' This confuses luminosity with apparent brightness. While the observed brightness changes with distance, the luminosity itself does not depend on how far the star is.
Option 5: 'usually is greater for stars with large proper motion.' Proper motion reflects a star’s motion across the sky relative to the Sun and not its intrinsic energy output; thus this relationship is not a general rule and is not tied to luminosity.

ASTRON 2140 AU2025 (23428) Quiz 2 - 2025 Oct 10

The luminosity of a star

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