Astrophysics class - Textbook I use : Quantitative Astronomy, topics in Astronomy by Thomas L. Swihart
The situation: I am revisiting an old take home test that my professor wants me to resubmit. I had left the test in a basement that has flooded this winter and unfortunately I am having a hard time filling in the damaged bits. Since he is returning from his sabbatical as I speak, I have a very short window to hopefully redo my test from last summer. I am allowed to use Internet resources, so I will be uploading the 10 questions or so I have to do in hopes that I can at least check to see if my attempts were close or out of practice.
The first one I am attempting:
1. Calculate the Energy Density in thermal energy and in photons at the center of the Sun.
My attempt:
In my notes I have written down the Stefan-Bolzmann law which essentially allows for me to calculate the energy that is radiated. Now the question states "center of the sun" so do I just look up a point of reference via google? Or is the energy consistent (or relatively so?).
To attempt to convert thermal energy to photons, I was stuck on the point of photon wavelength? Isn't gamma photons different from ultraviolet? I have more questions than direction..
I will be working on this problems all weekend starting now, so hopefully someone will work with me.
I do know this class does look for general answers as I have unfortunately over thought many of the questions.