2007-11-10 12:34:12 · 10 answers · asked by webb_ar 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
'Faintest' is a relative term, and you would need to specify a size and distance for each of the spectral types you mentioned. While a red giant may not be especially luminous, it's sheer size and mass may outshine a white dwarf, or Sol, at the same distance.
Of the stars you mentioned The 'O' class star is the most likely candidate for the brightest. As for the faintest, it's difficult to say.
2007-11-10 12:48:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would depend on the distance to the star.
A white dwarf 5 light years away would be a lot brighter than an O star 100 light years away.
And the sun is a main sequence star, so unless you specify which spectral type, the sun and a main sequence star are the same.
A white dwarf that is relatively young is extremely bright, but they will fade with time, so a very old white dwarf would be dimmer than any of the others on the list.
If you mean intrinisic brightness (the brightness each would appear at the same distance away) then a O-type star is the brightest, then a young white dwarf, then a main sequence star, then a red giant.
2007-11-10 13:03:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A white dwarf would be the faintest, but there are main sequence stars, red dwarfs, which I think would be fainter. I don't think this is the best choice, though, because most main sequence stars are brighter than white dwarfs. Also, it could be argued that the faintest of these red dwarfs should really not be considered main sequence stars. So I would go with white dwarfs.
Note: red giants are ALL brighter than white dwarfs. They are not intrinsically as luminous or as hot, but their size is part of the formula. They are far brighter than white dwarfs.
Iran, white dwarfs are quite hot. That's why they are white. The reason they are so faint is because they are very small.
2007-11-10 12:41:12 · answer #3 · answered by Brant 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A white dwarf is the dying remnant of a star like our sun. The only light coming from a white dwarf is generated by latent heat. I doubt light is anywhere as intense as light coming from active nuclear reactions which is what your other options still have going on.
2007-11-10 12:46:10 · answer #4 · answered by Ronald D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty sure a white dwarf is the faintest and also coldest. A white dwarf is a dying star, meaning that it has lost a considerable amount of its original mass and temperature and is close to extinguishing.
2007-11-10 12:42:43 · answer #5 · answered by Iran M 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If it's unseen, it's not going to be "a" or "d." If the combined masses are 5 solar masses, it's not going to be a white dwarf. I'll let you figure out what the mass range is for G main sequence stars, neutron stars, and black holes, to figure out the rest.
2016-05-29 03:28:37 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/stars/startypes.shtml
^^^ very good page...
take into account that size may effect mass and mass may effect the amount of energy/light output of a star
Ia Very luminous supergiants
Ib Less luminous supergiants
II Luminous giants
III Giants
IV Subgiants
V Main sequence stars (dwarf stars)
VI Subdwarf
VII White Dwarf
2007-11-10 12:43:05 · answer #7 · answered by intracircumcordei 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
KBW3 is 100% correct. Thumbs up for that answer.
2007-11-10 16:04:20 · answer #8 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
red giant. The bigger the star is, the fainter it is.
2007-11-10 12:40:34 · answer #9 · answered by Space smart 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it depends on your point of veiw via distance.
2007-11-10 13:00:54 · answer #10 · answered by herr fugelmeister 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋