In which spectral class does a white dwarf with a temperature of 10,000 K belong?
A white dwarf with a temperature of 10,000 K belongs to the spectral class DA.
To determine the spectral class of a white dwarf with a temperature of 10,000 K, we can refer to the Morgan-Keenan (MK) system. This classification system categorizes stars based on their spectral characteristics, particularly the absorption lines seen in their spectra.
The MK system uses a sequence of letters - O, B, A, F, G, K, and M - to represent different spectral classes, ranging from the hottest (O) to the coolest (M) stars. Each spectral class is further divided into subclasses using numbers from 0 to 9, with 0 being the hottest and 9 being the coolest within that particular class.
A white dwarf is characterized by its small size and high surface temperature. The majority of white dwarfs fall into the spectral class D, which is exclusive to these objects.
However, if we consider the MK system, we can approximate the spectral class of a white dwarf with a temperature of 10,000 K. In this case, based on a rough conversion to the main sequence stars, a white dwarf with such a temperature would most likely correspond to a spectral class A or early F.