An astronomer is measuring the electromagnetic radiation emitted by two stars, which are both assumed to be

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An astronomer is measuring the electromagnetic radiation emitted by two stars, which are both assumed to be perfect blackbody emitters. For each star she makes a plot of the radiation intensity per unit wavelength as a function of wavelength. She notices that the curve for star A has a maximum that occurs at a shorter wavelength than does the curve for star B. What can she conclude about the surface temperatures of the two stars?

(a) Star A has the greater surface temperature.

(b) Star B has the greater surface temperature.

(c) Both stars, being perfect blackbody emitters, have the same surface temperature.

(d) There is not enough information to draw a conclusion about the temperatures.

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Physics

ISBN: 9781119539636

11th Edition

Authors: John D. Cutnell, Kenneth W. Johnson, David Young, Shane Stadler

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