Exam-style question
Try this first
Which statement correctly distinguishes between absolute magnitude and apparent magnitude?.
- A.Absolute magnitude measures brightness from Earth, while apparent magnitude is the intrinsic brightness
- B.Absolute magnitude is the brightness of a star at a standard distance, while apparent magnitude is how bright it appears from Earth
- C.Apparent magnitude is constant, while absolute magnitude varies with distance
- D.Absolute magnitude is always greater than apparent magnitude
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Absolute magnitude is the brightness of a star at a standard distance, while apparent magnitude is how bright it appears from Earth
Explanation
Why this works
Absolute magnitude is defined as the brightness of a star as if it were placed at a distance of 10 parsecs from Earth, while apparent magnitude is how bright the star appears from our viewpoint, which can vary with distance.
Common mistake
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