A student claims, "If a star’s radius doubles while its surface temperature is…
PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Astrophysics · Astrophysics
Problem
A student claims, "If a star’s radius doubles while its surface temperature is reduced to one–half, its total power output stays the same." Which of the following best evaluates this claim?
(a) The claim is incorrect; the star’s power would actually double.
(b) The claim is incorrect because the change in temperature affects the power far more strongly than the change in area, so the star’s power would decrease.
(c) The claim is correct because 4(0.5)2=1, so the increase in area exactly balances the effect of the lower temperature.
(d) The claim is incorrect; the star’s power would be halved, not stay the same.