Question

Supernovae have extremely high temperatures compared to stars like our sun. Which of the following wavelengths of light would you expect only supernovae to emit?

A) Ultraviolet
B) Infrared
C) X-ray
D) Radio waves

Answer 1

Supernovae emit X-ray wavelengths of light due to their extremely high temperatures, while stars like our sun primarily emit in the visible spectrum.

Step-by-step explanation:

You can expect that supernovae would emit X-ray wavelengths of light that are not typical for a star like our sun. Stars like our sun, with a temperature of 5800 K, emit light primarily in the visible range and to some extent in the ultraviolet spectrum. In contrast, supernovae are extremely hot and therefore emit higher energy radiation. Supernovae involve the explosion of a white dwarf in a binary system and can reach temperatures much higher than our Sun, leading to the emission of X-rays. The presence of these high-energy photons is one way astronomers confirm that new elements are formed in the crucible of the supernova.