IB Physics HL E.5.6 Stellar parallax
IB Physics HL E.5.6 Stellar parallax
Use stellar parallax data to find star distances, halve total angular shift correctly, and convert parsecs into light-years or metres.
How this is tested
- use the equation d = 1/p with p in arc-seconds, then convert the final value into pc, ly, or m
- read a parallax diagram by taking half the total six-month angular shift before using the equation
- decide which star is nearer from parallax angle or brightness, stating the distance model assumption