Exam-style question
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What does a lower absolute magnitude indicate about a star?.
- A.It is farther away from Earth.
- B.It has a higher luminosity.
- C.It appears brighter from Earth.
- D.It is cooler in temperature.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- It has a higher luminosity.
Explanation
Why this works
The evidence shows that absolute magnitude measures a star's intrinsic brightness regardless of distance. A lower absolute magnitude corresponds to a higher luminosity, indicating that the star emits more energy.
This implies that stars with lower absolute magnitudes are more luminous than those with higher values. Therefore, the conclusion is that a lower absolute magnitude signifies a star's greater power output.
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