A sun-like star is barely visible to naked-eye observers on earth when it is a distance of 7.0 light years, or 6.6×1016m, away. The sun emits a power of 3.8×1026W.
Using this information, at what distance would a candle that emits a power of 0.23 W just be visible?
Given,
distance of the star, D = 7 light years = 6.6 * 1016 m
Power emitted or energy produced per second is luminosity, L = 3.8 * 1026 W
Power emitted by the candle, L' = 0.23 W
Let distance associated with candle be D'
Now,
Brightness of an object when seen from distance D is, B = L /
4D2
Now,
It is given that candle is just visible, thus brightness of both star and candle should be same
Thus,
B star = B candle
=> L / 4D2
= L' / 4
(D')2
=> L / D2 = L' / (D')2
=> (D')2 = (L'/L)*D2
=> D' =
* D
put the values
=> D' =
* (6.6 * 1016)
= 0.246 * 10-13 * 6.6 * 1016 = 1623.6 m
Thus, distance associated with the bulb is 1623.6 m
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