In: Physics
7. Sirius has an approximate visual magnitude of -1.46 (Sirius A) a. How much brighter is Sirius than the star Achernar (Mv = 0.46) ? (looking for intensity, not magnitude) b. Sirius has a small white dwarf companion (Sirius B) with a magnitude of 8.5. How much brighter is the main star (Sirius A) than its companion (Sirius B)?
Brightness of star is intensity of light received from it.
Intensity and apparent magnitude of two stars is given by
relation
a)
Visual magnitude of Sirius is
and Visual magnitude of star Achernar
Sirius is
times brighter than Achernar.
b)
Visual magnitude of star Sirius B is
Main star Sirius A is
times brighter than Sirius B.
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