Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 iii Paper 317 1 ii Solution 2026-09-25
Along the pp-chain homologous sequence, is constant and therefore . Normalizing to the Sun gives the transition mass
For the CNO cycle law , the nuclear scaling becomesThe opacity law is unchanged, so . Equating them givesand then
The effective temperature follows from the Stefan–Boltzmann law . Thus the pp branch has and , whereas the CNO branch hasOn a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, both branches rise toward larger luminosity and, conventionally, leftward toward larger temperature. They join near ; the CNO branch has the steeper -- logarithmic slope and lies to the cooler side of the extrapolated constant-radius branch at fixed luminosity.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 iii Paper 317 2 ii Solution 2026-09-25
For , the angular moments areandThus this angular form satisfies the Eddington closure approximation, , and
Part (i) gives . Substitution in yieldsMatching powers of gives and , the latter being constant flux. Hence .
At the surface there is no incoming intensity. Applying this condition to the outgoing hemisphere in the moment approximation,so . ConsequentlyNow and the effective temperature is defined by . It follows thatAt the top of the grey atmosphere,
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2025 iii Paper 317 1 Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
For a homologous star, hydrostatic equilibrium, mass conservation, and the ideal gas equation give the central scalingswhere is the mean molecular weight. Integrating the nuclear energy-generation law over a fixed homologous profile givesRadiative stellar structure gives independentlyEquating the two luminosities yieldsAt fixed zero-age composition, the stars are therefore homologous with
The effective temperature satisfies , so . The zero-age main sequence consequently hasIt is a steep line rising toward high luminosity and high temperature on a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
For fully ionized hydrogen and helium with ,while . At fixed mass,and the corresponding radius relation is
At the pure-hydrogen zero-age point ,whereasHenceandAs hydrogen is consumed, falls, so both and rise. In the usual diagram with temperature increasing leftward, the evolutionary track initially moves upward and leftward from the zero-age main sequence.