Exam-style question
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Why do hotter stars appear bluer than cooler stars?.
- A.Hotter stars emit more light at shorter wavelengths
- B.Cooler stars emit light at all wavelengths equally
- C.Hotter stars have more absorption lines
- D.Cooler stars are larger in size
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Hotter stars emit more light at shorter wavelengths
Explanation
Why this works
The cause is the higher temperature of the star. This temperature increase leads to a greater emission of energy at shorter wavelengths, according to black-body radiation principles.
The effect is that hotter stars appear bluer, while cooler stars emit more light at longer wavelengths, appearing redder. This color difference helps in classifying stars based on their temperatures.
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