Quiz On Horsehead Nebula

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[Physics of Horsehead Nebula]
Give all answers to 3s.f. unless otherwise asked.
 c = 3.0*108 m/sec    e = -1.69*10-19 c  1 A.U. = 1.5 *108 km

1. The temperature of interstellar space is typically -263oC. Express this in kelvin to the nearest degree.  
kelvin 
2. The visible region ofthe electromagnetic spectrum is from l = 420nm (violet) to l = 700nm (red).  
(a) Calculate the frequency of a photon of wavelength 700nm. 
x1014 Hz
(b) The energy of this photon giving the answer in joules. 
x10-19 J
3. It is more usual to work in electron volts.
(a) Convert your anwser from 2(b) to eV.
eV
(b) An electron in a hydrogen atom makes a transition from the n=4 level to n=3, an energy difference of 0.66eV. Calculate the wavelength (to nearest nm) of the photon produced.
nm
4. A star may be considered a good approximation to a black body radiator. Wien's Law applies: ( lmax T=0.0029).
(a) Use Wien's Law to estimate the wavelength at which the sun emits most of its radiation, if the surface temperature is 5800K.
nm
(b) Use the same law to calculate the corresponding wavelength for a massive O type star with surface temperature of T = 30000K.  
nm
5. If the HH nebula is 1600 light years away, 
How many A.U.s is this ?
*108A.U.
6. As viewed from the earth the Horsehead Nebula  subtends an angle of 0.02 degrees. 
(a) Convert this to radians.
*10-4rad
(b) Calculate the distance across the Nebula in light years.
light years
  
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