The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram shows the relationships between stars by plotting their brightness against their temperature. Most stars fall along the main sequence, which is a curved line sloping from the top left to lower right of the diagram, as there is usually a predictable relationship where hotter stars are brighter due to their larger surface area radiating more energy. The diagram divides stars into main sequence, red giant, supergiant, and white dwarf regions based on their luminosity and temperature.
The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram shows the relationships between stars by plotting their brightness against their temperature. Most stars fall along the main sequence, which is a curved line sloping from the top left to lower right of the diagram, as there is usually a predictable relationship where hotter stars are brighter due to their larger surface area radiating more energy. The diagram divides stars into main sequence, red giant, supergiant, and white dwarf regions based on their luminosity and temperature.
The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram shows the relationships between stars by plotting their brightness against their temperature. Most stars fall along the main sequence, which is a curved line sloping from the top left to lower right of the diagram, as there is usually a predictable relationship where hotter stars are brighter due to their larger surface area radiating more energy. The diagram divides stars into main sequence, red giant, supergiant, and white dwarf regions based on their luminosity and temperature.
The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram shows the relationships between stars by plotting their brightness against their temperature. Most stars fall along the main sequence, which is a curved line sloping from the top left to lower right of the diagram, as there is usually a predictable relationship where hotter stars are brighter due to their larger surface area radiating more energy. The diagram divides stars into main sequence, red giant, supergiant, and white dwarf regions based on their luminosity and temperature.
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The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
What is the HR Diagram?
• Tool that shows relationships and differences between stars. • Relative measure of brightness & temperature. • Shows stars of different ages/stages at the same time. Types of Stars • Stars that fit the expected pattern – cool and dim; hot and bright – are called main sequence stars – Most stars fall in the region called main sequence. – Curved line sloping from top left to lower right of HR diagram. Why is there a “main sequence”? • Usually there is a predictable relationship between brightness and temp.
Hotter things are brighter
Hotter temp = more energy is radiated.
Bigger stars are brighter.
Bigger surface area = more energy radiated. Regions of Stars • Main sequence: A thin band extending from the top left of the diagram to the lower right. Dwarfs stars lie along the main sequence. • Red giant region: Located towards the upper right of the diagram. Stars located here are about 10 times larger than the Sun, and many time more luminous. • Supergiants: A band extending across the top of the HR diagram from blue to red. These are extremely large and luminous stars. • White dwarfs: A region in the lower left of the diagram. These are faint, hot, very small stars.
