Chapter 33, Problem 3TC

Solution

To determine: The rank in order of increasing surface temperature of a red star, a yellow star and a blue star.

Answer:

The increasing order of surface temperature is a red star < a yellow star < a blue star.

Explanation:

A red star is a highly luminous and a low mass star of surface temperature about $5000\text{K}$

. This temperature makes the appearance of this star either red or yellow.

Our Sun is also classified as a yellow dwarf star with a surface temperature of about $5800\text{K}$ . Due to this temperature, most of the light of the Sun visible to us is yellow and white.

A blue star is considered to be the hottest star. The minimum surface temperature of the blue star is around $10000\text{K}$ and the hottest blue star is of the temperature $40000\text{K}$ or more.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the increasing order of surface temperature is a red star < a yellow star < a blue star.