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  • Current Syllabus
  • Advanced Mechanics
  • Electromagnetism
  • The Nature of Light
  • From the Universe to the Atom
  • Pre-2019 Syllabus
    • Space
    • Motors and Generators
    • From Ideas to Implementation
    • Astrophysics
  • Other Subjects
  • EasyChem – HSC Chemistry
  • EasyHSC – HSC Business Studies
  • EasyBio – HSC Biology
  • Search

Determining Distance

Astrophysics > Determining Distance

Photometric measurements can be used for determining distance and comparing objects

Students learn to:

  • define absolute and apparent magnitude
  • explain how the concept of magnitude can be used to determine the distance to a celestial object
  • outline spectroscopic parallax
  • explain how two-colour values (eg colour index, B-V) are obtained and why they are useful
  • describe the advantages of photoelectric technologies over photographic methods for photometry

Students:

  • solve problems and analyse information using: 
    to calculate the absolute or apparent magnitude of stars using data and a reference star
  • perform an investigation to demonstrate the use of filters for photometric measurements
  • identify data sources, gather, process and present information to assess the impact of improvements in measurement technologies on our understanding of celestial objects

Extract from Physics Stage 6 Syllabus (Amended October 2002). © 2009, Board of Studies NSW.

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