Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 iii Paper 317 2 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
For fixed composition, electron-scattering opacity is effectively independent of mass density and temperature, so . With the specified CNO cycle exponent , the homology relations for radiative stars giveThe radiative homology with CNO burning and electron scattering is thereforeThe Stefan–Boltzmann law now givesEquivalently . These slopes are illustrated with arbitrary separate reference-model normalizations:
Logarithmic Hertzsprung-Russell slopes for the two idealized radiative homology sequences, with temperature increasing to the left
. Details. The proton–proton/Kramers model applies to the lower-mass regime; the CNO/electron-scattering model applies to the higher-mass regime. Higher-mass cores are hotter, making the more temperature-sensitive CNO cycle efficient, and highly ionized material favors electron-scattering opacity. These are the stated idealized radiative, gas-pressure-supported sequences: a fully convective low-mass star or a radiation-pressure-dominated massive star needs a different structural model. The intersection of independently normalized lines in the figure does not specify a physical crossover mass.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 iii Paper 317 1 iv Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Retain the same stellar homology and gas-pressure assumptions, but use the specified CNO cycle law and constant electron-scattering opacity. The nuclear luminosity now scales asThe radiative diffusion in a star scaling becomesEquating the two yields . Therefore radiative homology with CNO burning and electron scattering givesSince , the Stefan–Boltzmann law givesThis is a model comparison using the exponent 16 prescribed here. Actual massive stars may have appreciable radiation pressure and convective cores, which violate the assumptions of this purely radiative gas-pressure family.
