Exam-style question
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What is the formula for calculating the apparent brightness of a star in relation to its luminosity and distance?.
- A.apparent brightness = luminosity / (4π × distance^2)
- B.apparent brightness = luminosity × (4π × distance^2)
- C.apparent brightness = luminosity / distance
- D.apparent brightness = 4π × luminosity × distance^2
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- apparent brightness = luminosity / (4π × distance^2)
Explanation
Why this works
The correct formula relates apparent brightness to luminosity and distance using the inverse-square law, which states that brightness decreases with the square of the distance from the source.
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