Question

Name five characteristics of a star that can be determined by measuring its spectrum. Explain how you would use a spectrum to determine these characteristics.

Answer 1

Answer:

Chemical composition, Temperature, Radial velocity, Size or diameter of the star, Rotation.

Explanation:  

Elemental abundances are determined by analyzing the relative strengths of the absorption lines in the spectrum of a star.

The Spectral class to which the star belongs gives the information related to the temperature of the star. It is the spectral lines that determine the spectral class O B A F G K M are the spectral classes.

By measuring the wavelengths of the lines in the star's spectrum gives the radial velocity. Doppler shift is the method used to find the radial velocity.

A star can be classified as a giant or a dwarf . A giant star will have narrow width spectral lines whereas a dwarf star has wider spectral lines.

Broadening of the spectral lines will determine the star's rotation.