What two intrinsic properties combine to determine a star's total luminosity?
Answer
Temperature and its surface area (radius)
Total luminosity, which is the star's actual intrinsic brightness, is fundamentally dependent on both how hot its surface is and the total physical area radiating that energy. This relationship is essential for understanding stars that have evolved off the main sequence. For example, a star that has become a giant or supergiant can be cool (red) but still immensely luminous because its surface area, or radius, has expanded tremendously, compensating for the lower energy output per square meter.
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