Name:
For the following problems see the appendices for the relevant data.
1. Use the equation of Hydrostatic Equilibrium
dP(r)
dr = −
GM(r)
r
2
ρ(r)
to estimate the central pressure of the Sun by considering the whole
Sun as one shell.
2. Now use the prior example and the equation of state for an ideal gas
to estimate the central temperature of the Sun.
3. If the gas found within the darker region of a Sunspot has a Teff = 3800
K, then calculate the ratio of the total intensities of the Sunspot to the
surface of the Sun. What is the ratio of intensities at λ = 550 nm?
4. Calculate the energy released at both every stage and total stage of the
triple alpha process. How does this compare to both the CNO cycle
and the PP chain?
