For low mass stars, the relation between their luminosity (intrinsic
energy output) and their mass is the following:
L α M4
(Luminosity is proportional to mass to the fourth power)
A one solar mass star has a luminosity of one solar luminosity.
a) what is the luminosity of a 4 solar mass star compared to a 1 solar mass star?
b) What is the luminosity of a 0.2 solar mass star compared to a 1 solar mass star?
Discussion
Be able to explain how astronomers first determined mass-luminosity relationship of stars. What properties
did they notice in order to determine
the mass?