Betelgeuse has a luminosity (power radiated)135,000 times that of the Sun,which emits energy at the rate of 3.906 * 10²⁶ W.How much of its mass is being converted to energy in each year?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Betelgeuse's luminosity is 135,000 times that of the Sun. The Sun's luminosity is given as $3.906 \times 10^{26}$ W. To find the mass converted to energy, we use the equation $E = mc^2$, where $E$ is the energy, $m$ is the mass, and $c$ is the speed of light ($3 \times 10^8$ m/s). First, calculate the total energy output of Betelgeuse per year by multiplying the Sun's energy output by 135,000 and then by the number of seconds in a year ($3.154 \times 10^7$ seconds). Then, solve for $m$ using the total energy output and the speed of light squared. The correct calculation leads to the mass being $1.85 \times 10^{22}$ kg per year.

Betelgeuse Has a Luminosity (Power Radiated)135,000 Times That of the Sun,which