Now consider the statements in Part A that are inferred from models. A solar model is used to calculate interior conditions based on certain "known" characteristics of the Sun, such the Sun's total mass. How do we know the Sun's mass? a. We infer the mass from a model of the Sun. b. We first measure the Sun's size and density, then use these measurements to calculate the Sun's mass. c. We can calculate it by using the law of conservation of energy with the measured amount of light that the Sun emits. d. We can calculate it by applying Newton's version of Kepler's third law with Earth's orbital period (1 year) and Earth's average distance from the Sun (1 AU).

d. We can calculate it by applying Newton's version of Kepler's third law

Explanation:

The measurements of a Star like the Sun have several problems, the first one is distance, but the most important is the temperature since as we get closer all the instruments will melt. This is why all measurements must be indirect because of the effects that these variables create on nearby bodies.

Kepler's laws are deduced from Newton's law of universal gravitation, in these laws the mass of the Sun affects the orbit of the planets since it creates a force of attraction, if measured the orbit and the time it takes to travel it we can know the centripetal acceleration and with it knows the force, from where we clear the mass of the son.

Let's review the statements of the exercise

. a) False. We don't have good enough models for this calculation

. b) False. The size of the sun is very difficult to measure because it is a mass of gas, in addition the density changes strongly with depth

. c) False. The amount of light that comes out of the sun is not all the light produced and is due to quantum effects where the mass of the sun is not taken into account

. d) True. This method has been used to calculate the mass of the sun and the other planets since the variable distance and time are easily measured from Earth

Correct answer is D