What relationship did Henrietta Swan Leavitt establish for Cepheid variables?

Answer

The longer the period of variation, the intrinsically brighter the star is (period-luminosity relationship).

Henrietta Swan Leavitt established the critical period-luminosity relationship specifically for Cepheid variables. This relationship dictates that the intrinsic brightness, or luminosity, of a Cepheid star is not arbitrary but is intrinsically tied to how long it takes to complete one full cycle of brightening and dimming. Specifically, a longer period of variation corresponds to a greater intrinsic luminosity for that star. This predictable linkage is what allowed astronomers to use these stars as standard candles; by measuring the period, they knew the star's absolute brightness, enabling accurate distance calculations when comparing it to its observed faintness.

What relationship did Henrietta Swan Leavitt establish for Cepheid variables?

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