| Date | May 2016 | Marks available | 3 | Reference code | 16M.3.SL.TZ0.13 |
| Level | Standard level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | Time zone 0 |
| Command term | Predict | Question number | 13 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Aldebaran is a red giant star with a peak wavelength of 740 nm and a mass of 1.7 solar masses.
Show that the surface temperature of Aldebaran is about 4000 K.
The radius of Aldebaran is 3.1×1010 m. Determine the luminosity of Aldebaran.
Outline how the light from Aldebaran gives evidence of its composition.
Identify the element that is fusing in Aldebaran’s core at this stage in its evolution.
Predict the likely future evolution of Aldebaran.
Markscheme
\(T = \frac{{2.9 \times {{10}^{ - 3}}}}{{740 \times {{10}^{ - 9}}}}\)
3900 K
Answer must be to at least 2SF.
L=5.67×10-8×4π×(3.1×1010)2×40004
=1.8×1029W
Accept use of 39004 to give 1.6×1029W.
absorption lines in spectra
are specific to particular elements
Accept “emission lines in spectra”.
helium
helium flash
expansion of outer shell OR surface temperature increase
planetary nebula phase
only the core remains
if below 1.4MS/Chandrasekhar limit then white dwarf
