ASTR 2: Week 7 - Stellar Remnants

Define the following terms:

1. White dwarf: hot, compact stars whose mass is comparable to the Sun’s but whose
diameter is about the same as the Earth’s (1% of the Sun’s). They form when a
low-mass star (up to 8 solar masses) ejects a planetary nebula shell.

2. Chandrasekhar Limit: the limiting mass of a white dwarf, equal to 1.4 x the mass of the
sun. If more mass is added, a white dwarf will undergo a massive nuclear explosion
called a type Ia supernova.

3. Neutron star: an incredibly dense object made of neutrons, like a giant atomic nucleus.
This forms when a star more massive than 8 x the mass of the sun stops fusing Iron.
The outer layers explode off in a type II supernova leaving a neutron star.

4. Pulsar: a rapidly spinning neutron star with a beam of radiation.

5. General relativity: based on the idea that gravity causes a ​curvature of space​. According
to general relativity, masses generate a curvature or distortion of space and time that
causes objects to accelerate toward the masses.

6. Gravitational waves: a bending of space created by the acceleration of massive bodies

7. Black hole: Formed when a star that was initially more massive than about 20 solar
masses reaches the end of its life and collapses. Light does not travel fast enough to
escape the gravitational pull.

8. Schwarzschild radius: radius at which an object of a

particular mass becomes a black hole.

9. Hawking Radiation: temperature = 6×10−8 K like any other body whose temperature is
not absolute zero, emits energy in the form of electromagnetic waves, created by
quantum physical processes near the event horizon of a black hole. Because the only
source of energy available to a black hole is its mass, as a black hole “shines” (albeit
very dimly), its mass must decrease. In other words, black holes must eventually
“evaporate.”
 Object Formed from Type of explosion Mass Radius
what mass star

White Dwarf < 8 solar masses Ejects planetary ~ 1 solar mass 7000 km
nebula, (< 1.4) (~Earth)
(Can explode as type
1a if > 1.4M)

Neutron Star 8 - 20 solar Type II supernova ~ 3 solar 10 km

masses masses

Black Hole > 20 solar Type II supernova ~10 solar 30 km

masses masses
Mass of Sun = 2*10​30​ kg, Radius of Sun = 7 * 10​8​ m

Concept questions:
1. What happens to white dwarfs over time? They gradually cool and dim since there is no
fuel source.
2. What could happen to a white dwarf in a binary star system? Mass from the companion
could be transferred to the white dwarf. If the mass increases over 1.4 solar masses it
will explode in a type 1a supernova.
3. How do we detect black holes? The mass generates a gravitational field and we can see
objects orbiting the black hole. The black hole can give off x rays by accreting material.
4. How fast do Pulsars spin? Why do they spin so quickly? About 500 Hz (times per
second). They spin quickly because of conservation of angular momentum
(momentum = mass * velocity * radius; radius decreases therefore velocity increases)

Computational questions:
1. Calculate the escape velocity from a white dwarf and a neutron star (use the table above
for mass and radius).
G = 6.7 * 10​-11​ Nm​2​ /kg​2

White dwarf: V​esc​ = (2 * 6.7 * 10​-11​ Nm​2​ /kg​2​ * 2*10​30​ kg / (7000km)) ^(½) = 6,160 km/s

Neutron star: V​esc​ = (2 * 6.7 * 10​-11​ Nm​2​ /kg​2​ * 3* 2*10​30​ kg / (10km)) ^(½) = 282,000 km/s

2. Calculate the Schwarzschild radius of the Sun. (c = 3 * 10​8​ m/s) Then calculate your
Schwarzschild radius. How does that compare to the size of an atom (10​-10​ m) ?

Sun: 2 * 6.7 * 10​-11​ Nm​2​ /kg​2 ​ * 2*10​30​ kg / (3 * 10​8​ m/s)​2​ = 3 km

Me: 2 * 6.7 * 10​-11​ Nm​2​ /kg​2 ​ * 50 kg / (3 * 10​8​ m/s)​2​ = 7.4 * 10​-26​ m,

much smaller than an atom.