Characteristics of Stars
Integrated Science 2
Name_________________________________Pd________
The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram plots the relationship between different star characteristics, such as mass, color,
luminosity, and temperature. The purpose of this assignment is to become familiar with the characteristics of stars, and
how they relate to each other.
Mediummass stars
1. Complete the following data table of specific stars? Data Table 1:
Name
Surface
Temperature
(K)
Color
Luminosity
Relative Mass
Group
Stage
Sun
5,000
Yellow
1
Medium
Main
Sequence
Early
Spica
Betelgeuse
40 Eridani B
Proxima
Centauri
Aldebaran
2. Which characteristic always increases with increasing mass? _______________________
3. Which characteristic is directly associated with surface temperature? _____________________
4. a. What two characteristics do Deneb and Procyon B have in common?
b. What four characteristics do Deneb and Procyon B not share?
5. Rank the following star colors by increasing surface temperature:
yellow, blue, red, orange, white
coolest: __________________, __________________, __________________, __________________, __________________:hottest
6. Small main sequence stars tend to be ___________ in color, with a luminosity less than _________ and a surface
temperature between ______________K and _______________K.
7. Medium mass main sequence stars tend to be ___________ in color, with a luminosity between ______________ and
_______________ and a surface temperature between ______________K and _______________K.
8. Massive main sequence stars tend to be ___________ in color, with a luminosity between ________________ and _______________
and a surface temperature between ______________K and _______________K.
9. Polaris is also called the “North Star”. How many times more luminous is Polaris compared to the sun? ___________X
10. How would our sun appear if it had a lot more mass? Be specific.
11. How would our sun appear if it had much less mass? Be specific.