Exam-style question
Try this first
If a star has an absolute magnitude of +5 and another has an absolute magnitude of -1, which star is more luminous?.
- A.The star with absolute magnitude +5.
- B.The star with absolute magnitude -1.
- C.Both stars have the same luminosity.
- D.It cannot be determined without distance information.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The star with absolute magnitude -1.
Explanation
Why this works
The evidence indicates that lower absolute magnitudes correspond to higher luminosity. Since -1 is lower than +5, the star with an absolute magnitude of -1 is more luminous.
This implies that it emits more energy than the other star. Therefore, the conclusion is that the star with absolute magnitude -1 is indeed the more luminous of the two.
Common mistake
No common mistake is linked to this question yet.