Physics High
  • Home
  • Lessons
    • 1 Foundations >
      • 1.1 Dimensions and units
      • 1.2 Mathematic skills
      • 1.3 Graphing
      • 1.4 Vectors
      • 1.5 Vectors in 3D
    • 2 Mechanics >
      • 2.1 Kinematics 1D >
        • 2.1.1 Kinematics Intro
        • 2.1.2 Acceleration
        • 2.1.3 Graphing Motion
        • 2.1.4 Equations of Motion
      • 2.2 Kinematics 2D >
        • 2.2.1 Relative Motion
        • 2.2.2 Projectile Motion
      • 2.3 Forces >
        • 2.3.1 Newton's Laws
        • 2.3.2 forces in equilibrium
        • 2.3.3 Normal
        • 2.3.4 Friction
        • 2.3.5 Forces and Pulleys
      • 2.4 Momentum and Energy >
        • 2.4.1 Momentum
        • 2.4.2 Energy
      • 2.5 Rotational Mechanics >
        • 2.5.1 Circular Motion
        • 2.5.2 Angular Velocity
        • 2.5.3 Circular applications
        • 2.5.4 Moment of Inertia
        • 2.5.5 Torque
      • 2.6 Gravity >
        • 2.6.1 Gravitation
        • 2.6.2 Orbital Motion
        • 2.6.3 Kepler's Laws
        • 2.6.4 Gravitation and Energy
    • 3 Waves and Optics >
      • 3.1 Wave Phenomena >
        • 3.1.1 Wave Types
        • 3.1.2 Superposition
        • 3.1.3 Interference
        • 3.1.4 Inverse Square Law
        • 3.1.5 Modulation
      • 3.2 Sound >
        • 3.2.1 Beats
        • 3.2.2 Doppler
        • 3.2.3 Resonance
        • 3.2.4 Standing Waves
      • 3.3 Physical Optics >
        • 3.3.1 Light - a history
        • 3.3.2 Double Slit Diffraction
        • 3.3.3 Light - its speed
        • 3.3.4 Light as EMR
        • 3.3.5 Polarisation
        • 3.3.6 Spectroscopy
        • 3.3.7 Scattering
      • 3.4 Geometric Optics >
        • 3.4.1 Reflection
        • 3.4.2 Refraction
        • 3.4.3 Lenses and Images
        • 3.4.4 Dispersion
    • 4 Thermodynamics >
      • 4.1 Heat and Temperature
      • 4.2 Specific Heat Capacity
      • 4.3 Latent Heat
      • 4.4 Blackbody Radiation
    • 5 Electricity and Magnetism >
      • 5.1 Electrostatics >
        • 5.1.1 Charge
        • 5.1.2 Coulomb's Law
        • 5.1.3 Electric Field
        • 5.1.4 Voltage
      • 5.2 Circuits >
        • 5.2.1 Ohm's Law
        • 5.2.2 Series and Parallel Circuits
        • 5.2.3 Electrical Power
      • 5.3 Electromagnetism >
        • 5.3.1 Moving Charges in Electric Fields
        • 5.3.2 Ampere's Law
        • 5.3.3 Charge in Magnetic Fields
        • 5.3.4 Motor Effect
        • 5.3.5 DC Motor
      • 5.4 Electromagnetic Induction >
        • 5.4.1 Magnetic Flux
        • 5.4.2 Faraday's Law
        • 5.4.3 Lenz' Law
        • 5.4.4 Back EMF
        • 5.4.5 Generators
        • 5.4.6 Transformers
        • 5.4.7 Induction Motors
    • 6 Modern Physics >
      • 6.1 Relativity >
        • 6.1.1 Michelson Morley Experiment
        • 6.1.2 Special Relativity
        • 6.1.3 Special Relativity Evidence
      • 6.2 Atomic Physics >
        • 6.2.1 JJ Thomson and the electron
        • 6.2.2 Millikan
        • 6.2.3 Rutherford
        • 6.2.4 Chadwick
      • 6.3 Radioactivity >
        • 6.3.1 What is Radioactivity
        • 6.3.2 Half Life
        • 6.3.3 Binding Energy
        • 6.3.4 Strong Nuclear Force
        • 6.3.5 Fission
        • 6.3.6 Fusion
      • 6.4 Quantum Physics >
        • 6.4.1 Planck and the Blackbody
        • 6.4.2 Photoelectric Effect
        • 6.4.3 Bohr Model
        • 6.4.4 de Broglie and Matter Waves
        • 6.4.5 Compton Effect
        • 6.4.6 Schrödinger Equation
        • 6.4.7 Heisenberg
        • 6.4.8 Lasers
      • 6.4 Particle Physics
      • 6.5 Solid State Physics
    • 7 Astrophysics >
      • 7.1 Olber's Paradox
      • 7.2 Stellar Spectroscopy
      • 7.3 Determining Stellar Distances
      • 7.4 Star Magnitude
      • 7.5 Star Temperature
      • 7..6 HR Diagram
    • 8 Medical Physics >
      • 8.1 Ultrasound
      • 8.2 X-ray
      • 8.3 PET scans
      • 8.4 MRI
  • curriculum specific
    • NSW >
      • NSW curriculum >
        • Year 11
        • Year 12
      • HSC question per Module
      • HSC Exam review >
        • Downloads/notes
    • QLD curriculum
    • IB curriculum
    • SAT curriculum
    • AP Physics 1&2 curriculum
  • Resources
    • Review videos
    • Shorts
    • Formula Sheet
    • tools >
      • Calculator
      • Oscilloscope
    • data sheet
    • for students >
      • recommended physics sites
      • Review and Tips
    • for teachers
    • Blogs >
      • Podcasts
      • PhysicsHigh blog
    • About >
      • Who am I
      • FAQ
      • Fun
      • Contact

Astrophysics

PREVIOUS LESSON                                                                                                                               NEXT LESSON

1. Olber's Paradox

video
resources
video
This quick video describes Olber's paradox, how it challenges an infinite universe and how it is consistent with our current understanding of the origin of the universe.
resources
 

2. The Big Bang

video
resources
video
Coming Soon
resources
 

3. Stellar Spectroscopy​

video
resources
video
How can we determine properties of stars? By studying their spectra, we can learn a lot. This video covers, composition, temperature, density and motion
​
resources
 

4a. Determining Distance - Stellar parallax

video
resources
Tab Title
video
Stellar parallax is a method, using basic trigonometry, to determine the distance of stars within our galaxy. Using concrete and visual examples, I explain the methodology, why distance are defined in parsecs, and the limitation of the technique.
resources
Tab Title

4b. Determining Distance - Stellar parallax

video
resources
Tab Title
video
Stellar parallax is not a suitable method for distance beyond 100pc. Henrietta Leavitts work led to a better way of deterring steel;ar distance, through the use of variable stars called Cepheid variables
resources
Tab Title
 

5. Stellar Magnitude

video
resources
video
Stellar brightness is often quoted in terms of magnitude, whether apparent or absolute. This video explains the origins of these terms, the mathematics behind them and the limitations of using brightness as a means to discussing stellar properties.
resources
 

6. Stellar Temperature

video
resources
video
The colour of a glowing object is related to temperature but despite this, astronomers do not use colour directly to determine a star's surface temperature. After reviewing blackbody radiation, this video discusses why this is and also reviews the two ways astronomers determine a star's temperature.
​I refer to the paper by René Heller and Jan-Vincent Harre. You can find their paper here -
https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.06254
resources

7. HR Diagram.

video
resources
video
In this video I review the HR (or Hertzsprung Russell) Diagram. Quickly reviewing the concepts of brightness and colour of a star, I show you how we can classify stars and how that leads to better understanding of the nature of stars.
resources

Support

About
Contact
FAQ
Terms of Use
Picture
© COPYRIGHT 2024.
​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Lessons
    • 1 Foundations >
      • 1.1 Dimensions and units
      • 1.2 Mathematic skills
      • 1.3 Graphing
      • 1.4 Vectors
      • 1.5 Vectors in 3D
    • 2 Mechanics >
      • 2.1 Kinematics 1D >
        • 2.1.1 Kinematics Intro
        • 2.1.2 Acceleration
        • 2.1.3 Graphing Motion
        • 2.1.4 Equations of Motion
      • 2.2 Kinematics 2D >
        • 2.2.1 Relative Motion
        • 2.2.2 Projectile Motion
      • 2.3 Forces >
        • 2.3.1 Newton's Laws
        • 2.3.2 forces in equilibrium
        • 2.3.3 Normal
        • 2.3.4 Friction
        • 2.3.5 Forces and Pulleys
      • 2.4 Momentum and Energy >
        • 2.4.1 Momentum
        • 2.4.2 Energy
      • 2.5 Rotational Mechanics >
        • 2.5.1 Circular Motion
        • 2.5.2 Angular Velocity
        • 2.5.3 Circular applications
        • 2.5.4 Moment of Inertia
        • 2.5.5 Torque
      • 2.6 Gravity >
        • 2.6.1 Gravitation
        • 2.6.2 Orbital Motion
        • 2.6.3 Kepler's Laws
        • 2.6.4 Gravitation and Energy
    • 3 Waves and Optics >
      • 3.1 Wave Phenomena >
        • 3.1.1 Wave Types
        • 3.1.2 Superposition
        • 3.1.3 Interference
        • 3.1.4 Inverse Square Law
        • 3.1.5 Modulation
      • 3.2 Sound >
        • 3.2.1 Beats
        • 3.2.2 Doppler
        • 3.2.3 Resonance
        • 3.2.4 Standing Waves
      • 3.3 Physical Optics >
        • 3.3.1 Light - a history
        • 3.3.2 Double Slit Diffraction
        • 3.3.3 Light - its speed
        • 3.3.4 Light as EMR
        • 3.3.5 Polarisation
        • 3.3.6 Spectroscopy
        • 3.3.7 Scattering
      • 3.4 Geometric Optics >
        • 3.4.1 Reflection
        • 3.4.2 Refraction
        • 3.4.3 Lenses and Images
        • 3.4.4 Dispersion
    • 4 Thermodynamics >
      • 4.1 Heat and Temperature
      • 4.2 Specific Heat Capacity
      • 4.3 Latent Heat
      • 4.4 Blackbody Radiation
    • 5 Electricity and Magnetism >
      • 5.1 Electrostatics >
        • 5.1.1 Charge
        • 5.1.2 Coulomb's Law
        • 5.1.3 Electric Field
        • 5.1.4 Voltage
      • 5.2 Circuits >
        • 5.2.1 Ohm's Law
        • 5.2.2 Series and Parallel Circuits
        • 5.2.3 Electrical Power
      • 5.3 Electromagnetism >
        • 5.3.1 Moving Charges in Electric Fields
        • 5.3.2 Ampere's Law
        • 5.3.3 Charge in Magnetic Fields
        • 5.3.4 Motor Effect
        • 5.3.5 DC Motor
      • 5.4 Electromagnetic Induction >
        • 5.4.1 Magnetic Flux
        • 5.4.2 Faraday's Law
        • 5.4.3 Lenz' Law
        • 5.4.4 Back EMF
        • 5.4.5 Generators
        • 5.4.6 Transformers
        • 5.4.7 Induction Motors
    • 6 Modern Physics >
      • 6.1 Relativity >
        • 6.1.1 Michelson Morley Experiment
        • 6.1.2 Special Relativity
        • 6.1.3 Special Relativity Evidence
      • 6.2 Atomic Physics >
        • 6.2.1 JJ Thomson and the electron
        • 6.2.2 Millikan
        • 6.2.3 Rutherford
        • 6.2.4 Chadwick
      • 6.3 Radioactivity >
        • 6.3.1 What is Radioactivity
        • 6.3.2 Half Life
        • 6.3.3 Binding Energy
        • 6.3.4 Strong Nuclear Force
        • 6.3.5 Fission
        • 6.3.6 Fusion
      • 6.4 Quantum Physics >
        • 6.4.1 Planck and the Blackbody
        • 6.4.2 Photoelectric Effect
        • 6.4.3 Bohr Model
        • 6.4.4 de Broglie and Matter Waves
        • 6.4.5 Compton Effect
        • 6.4.6 Schrödinger Equation
        • 6.4.7 Heisenberg
        • 6.4.8 Lasers
      • 6.4 Particle Physics
      • 6.5 Solid State Physics
    • 7 Astrophysics >
      • 7.1 Olber's Paradox
      • 7.2 Stellar Spectroscopy
      • 7.3 Determining Stellar Distances
      • 7.4 Star Magnitude
      • 7.5 Star Temperature
      • 7..6 HR Diagram
    • 8 Medical Physics >
      • 8.1 Ultrasound
      • 8.2 X-ray
      • 8.3 PET scans
      • 8.4 MRI
  • curriculum specific
    • NSW >
      • NSW curriculum >
        • Year 11
        • Year 12
      • HSC question per Module
      • HSC Exam review >
        • Downloads/notes
    • QLD curriculum
    • IB curriculum
    • SAT curriculum
    • AP Physics 1&2 curriculum
  • Resources
    • Review videos
    • Shorts
    • Formula Sheet
    • tools >
      • Calculator
      • Oscilloscope
    • data sheet
    • for students >
      • recommended physics sites
      • Review and Tips
    • for teachers
    • Blogs >
      • Podcasts
      • PhysicsHigh blog
    • About >
      • Who am I
      • FAQ
      • Fun
      • Contact