Review black body radiation curves in Edexcel A-Level Physics through wavelength-intensity graphs, peak wavelength shifts and star-temperature comparisons.
The Sun is a main sequence star.
The Sun will eventually leave the main sequence and become a red giant star.
luminosity of Sun = 3.83 × 10^26 W
At this stage of its evolution the Sun will be classified as a red giant star. The wavelength of red light is between 6.2 × 10^-7 m and 7.8 × 10^-7 m.
Comment on the value for λ_max and this classification of the Sun.
λ_max is not within the wavelength range for red light;
it is in the infrared. However, a black-body spectrum emits a range of wavelengths around λ_max, so the most intense visible region can still be red light, supporting the red giant classification.