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White Dwarfs

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Using the H-R diagram below, compare the following properties of a white dwarf to those of a main sequence star such as our Sun. You must choose one value for each question.

An H-R Diagram, also know as the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, is of great importance in the study of stellar evolution. It is a two-dimensional graph that demonstrates the correlation between the spectral type, temperature and luminosity of stars. It shows that 90% of stars lie along a diagonal band known as the main sequence. Remaining stars also form their own individual bands in different spectral type areas of the graph.

HR Diagram

  1. Would a white dwarf have a larger or smaller proportion of hydrogen then a main sequence star?

  2. Would a white dwarf be larger or smaller in size than main sequence stars?

  3. Would the density of a white dwarf be lower or higher than a main sequence star?

  4. Would the luminosity of a white dwarf be lower or higher than a main sequence star of the same temperature?

This activity was developed by Jacqueline Slay, Largo High School, Largo, MD



The Imagine Team
Project Leader: Dr. Barbara Mattson
Curator: Meredith Gibb
Responsible NASA Official: Phil Newman
This page last updated: Monday, 17-Sep-2007 15:28:34 EDT