Sirius has a tempature of 9,940K. Using the table above, what spectral features does Sirius have?

*
1 point
Helium, some hydrogen
Strong hydrogen, some ionized metals
Hydrogen and ionized metals such as calcium and iron
Both metals and ionized metals, especially ionized calcium

1 answer

To determine the spectral features of Sirius, we need to consider its temperature of 9,940 K. For stars at this temperature, the spectral features typically indicate the presence of helium and some hydrogen, as well as various ionized metals due to the high energy levels associated with such a temperature.

Based on the usual classification of stars:

  • Stars with temperatures above 10,000 K tend to show strong helium lines and some hydrogen lines.
  • They can also show features from ionized metals, but hydrogen remains a significant element of their spectrum.

Given this information, the most appropriate option based on the temperature of Sirius would likely be:

Helium, some hydrogen

This choice reflects the characteristics expected in hot stars like Sirius.