19
What fundamental property of a star
varies along the main sequence?
•
•
•T and R vary smoothly (and together) along the main sequence
•B stars are ~4 times hotter and ~10 times bigger than sun
•M stars are ~2 times cooler and ~10 times smaller than sun
•Presence of a line implies that a single fundamental property
 is varying to make some stars B stars and some stars M stars
•That fundamental property then controls T, R
•A second property controls whether we get a giant or dwarfs
•
•Fundamental properties we could measure
•Location: Doesn’t seem to be of major importance
•Composition:  Outside composition of stars similar (H, He, ...)
•Age:       Will be important – but put off till Chapter 9
•Mass:       Turns out to be the most important parameter