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Week 6: Classifying the stars

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Diagram showing radiation transport in the Sun. A segment of the Sun is shown in cross-section (rather like a pizza slice). Labelling indicates the core, where nuclear reactions are taking place, surrounded first by the radiative zone, and then the outer convective zone just below the photosphere. Zigzag red lines in the core and radiative zone indicate the path of photons as they progress outwards through multiple collisions with charged particles. In the convective zone, coloured loops indicate the circulation of hot plasma in convective cells. Above the photosphere, arrows indicate energy radiated out into space. Labelling below the diagram indicates the main energy transport process in each zone – radiation in the core and radiative zone, convection in the convective zone, and radiation again beyond the photosphere.

 3.2 How the mass of a star affects its luminosity