Questions: Choose the correct statement. The axes of a Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram are surface temperature on the horizontal axis and luminosity on the vertical axis. The axes of a Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram are interior temperature on the horizontal axis and mass on the vertical axis. The axes of a Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram are mass on the horizontal axis and stellar age on the vertical axis. The axes of a Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram are surface temperature on the horizontal axis and radius on the vertical axis. The axes of a Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram are mass on the horizontal axis and luminosity on the vertical axis.

Solution Steps

The Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram is a fundamental tool in astronomy used to classify stars based on their luminosity and surface temperature. It is a scatter plot where each point represents a star.

In the H-R diagram:

• The horizontal axis typically represents the surface temperature of stars. It is usually plotted in reverse order, with higher temperatures on the left and lower temperatures on the right.
• The vertical axis represents the luminosity of stars, often in terms of the Sun's luminosity.

Let's evaluate the given options based on the standard H-R diagram:

1. Surface temperature on the horizontal axis and luminosity on the vertical axis.
2. Interior temperature on the horizontal axis and mass on the vertical axis.
3. Mass on the horizontal axis and stellar age on the vertical axis.
4. Surface temperature on the horizontal axis and radius on the vertical axis.
5. Mass on the horizontal axis and luminosity on the vertical axis.

The correct description of the H-R diagram is option 1: surface temperature on the horizontal axis and luminosity on the vertical axis.

Final Answer