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Classification of stars (A-level only)

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Question 8

The table below gives observational data for the blue supergiant star Rigel and the Sun.

Table 1

NameRadius / m\text{m}mSurface temperature / K\text{K}K
Rigel8.4×10108.4 \times 10^{10}8.4×101024 00024\,00024000
Sun7.0×1087.0 \times 10^{8}7.0×1086 0006\,0006000
a.

Calculate the ratio:

power output of Rigelpower output of the Sun \frac{\text{power output of Rigel}}{\text{power output of the Sun}} power output of the Sunpower output of Rigel​
[3]
b.

Discuss the evolutionary path of a supergiant star like Rigel, and explain why its ultimate fate could pose a severe hazard to life on Earth if it were located in our local stellar neighborhood.

[3]
Markscheme

Classification of stars (A-level only) Questions

  1. A Level
  2. /Physics
  3. /Classification of stars (A-level only)

18 exam-style questions on AQA A Level Physics Classification of stars (A-level only), covering Classification by luminosity (A-level only), Absolute magnitude, *M* (A-level only), Classification by temperature, black-body radiation (A-level only), Principles of the use of stellar spectral classes (A-level only), The Hertzsprung–Russell (HR) diagram (A-level only), and Supernovae, neutron stars and black holes (A-level only). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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