What is a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram?
... (Show more) Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, also called H-R diagram, in astronomy, graph in which the absolute magnitudes (intrinsic brightness) of stars are plotted against their spectral types (temperatures).
What did Hertzsprung and Russell discover about stars?
Hertzsprung and Russell were two astronomers who noticed significant patterns between a star's luminosity, or energy output of light, and its surface temperature. Ejnar Hertzsprung was from Denmark, while Henry N. Russell was from the United States. They placed these findings in a graph called, none other than,...
How do scientists use the H-R diagram?
Scientists use a tool called the H-R diagram to observe these trends. The H-R diagram is a graph that shows the effects that both temperature and surface area have on a star. It is a widely used tool when studying the overall evolution and aging of a star.
Who Were Hertzsprung and Russell?
Ever notice how theories and models in science are commonly named after the men and women who discovered them? From Bohr's example of the atom to Darwin's theory of evolution, those who made great contributions and innovations in science have long been honored by this eponymous tradition. This same naming system also holds true as with the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
Which axis of the Hertzsprung Russell diagram shows the temperature of a star?
Stars at greater masses are more luminous than smaller stars at the same temperatures. Each point on the Hertzsprung Russell diagram identifies a star. The x -axis generally displays the temperature scale and spectral class in a decreasing format from left to right; the y -axis shows luminosity or absolute magnitude.
What are the four types of stars in the Hertzsprung Russell diagram?
There are four main types of stars found in the Hertzsprung Russell diagram - main sequence, white dwarfs, giants and supergiants - which fall into seven of the spectral classes. The sun falls in spectral class G. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Create your account.
Where did Hertzsprung come from?
Ejnar Hertzsprung was from Denmark , while Henry N. Russell was from the United States. They placed these findings in a graph called, none other than, the Hertzsprung-Russel, or HR Diagram, for short. Lesson. Quiz. Course.
Which class of spectral class is the white dwarf in?
The white dwarfs are small, hot and dim with relatively low luminosities, whereas the giants fall somewhere in between the supergiants and main sequence within spectral classes G-M.
