Re: [Phys-l] the sun

["Edmiston, Mike" <edmiston@bluffton.edu>]

I think I answered that question.  It's closer to the average than it is
to the median.  The average star is about two-thirds of the sun's mass.
The median star is about one-third of the sun's mass.  Even though our
sun is much smaller than the largest stars, it is larger than most
stars.

This is a rough calculation based on a table of stellar mass data from a
populare textbook. 


Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry and Physics
Bluffton University
Bluffton, OH 45817
(419)-358-3270
edmiston@bluffton.edu



-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
[mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Larry
Smith
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 10:55 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] the sun

At 10:12 AM -0700 11/12/08, Larry Smith wrote:
> Of all the stars in the Milky Way on the main sequence, is the sun's 
> mass close to the average or the median?
>
> Thanks,
> Larry


I think my question might be clarified if I change the word "close" to
"closer."  How close?

Thanks,
Larry
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