Questions: How many times brighter is a 1st magnitude star than a 6th magnitude star?
Transcript text: How many times brighter is a 1st magnitude star than a 6th magnitude star?
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Understanding the Magnitude Scale
The magnitude scale in astronomy is a logarithmic scale used to measure the brightness of stars. A difference of 5 magnitudes corresponds to a brightness factor of 100.
Step 2: Calculating the Brightness Difference
To find how many times brighter a 1st magnitude star is compared to a 6th magnitude star, we use the formula:
Brightness factor=10(m2−m1)/2.5
where m1 and m2 are the magnitudes of the two stars.
Step 3: Applying the Formula
Substitute m1=1 and m2=6:
Brightness factor=10(6−1)/2.5=105/2.5=102=100