Loose Leaf For Explorations:  Introduction To Astronomy
Loose Leaf For Explorations: Introduction To Astronomy
9th Edition
ISBN: 9781260432145
Author: Thomas T Arny, Stephen E Schneider Professor
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
bartleby

Concept explainers

Question
Book Icon
Chapter 15, Problem 1QFR
To determine

Approximate mass and radius of a white dwarf compared to solar mass.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1QFR

White dwarf can have mass up to 8times the solar mass and nearly radius upto 1.4 times the solar radius.

Explanation of Solution

Normally, stellar evolution ends in three major ways. They are called proton star, neutron star and a blackhole. The criteria which determines the type of end stage is the mass and radius of star.

Among these, white dwarfs are small sized, high temperature stars. They have almost diameter near to that of Earth. Even they are very hot, due to very small surface are, they appear very dim compared to Earth. Even the brightest white dwarf has only brightness 1% of Sun. Surface temperature of white dwarf will be close to 10,000 K. It appears in bluish color.

White dwarfs are formed when its ejected stellar wind ends in planetary nebula. This happens for the stars having mass up to 8times the solar mass. Size of white dwarf is limited by the Chandrasekhar limit. Maximum radius of white dwarf would be 1.4 times the radius of Sun.

Conclusion:

Thus, the white dwarf can have mass up to 8times the solar mass and nearly radius upto 1.4 times the solar radius.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
What is the size of a typical white dwarf? Group of answer choices   1.0 solar radii   0.5 solar radii   0.1 solar radii (roughly the size of Jupiter)   0.01 solar radii (roughly the size of Earth)   5 solar radii
What is the answer below if the radius of the neutron star is 29.894 km? (express your answer in the proper SI unit and without scientific notation) What is the average density of a neutron star that has the same mass as the sun but a radius of only 20.0 km?
A 1.5 M neutron star and a 0.7 M white dwarf have been found orbiting each other with a period of 10 minutes. What is their average separation? Convert your answer to units of the Sun's radius, which is 0.0047 AU.
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Physics
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399944
Author:Michael A. Seeds
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399920
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:9781938168284
Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher:OpenStax
Text book image
An Introduction to Physical Science
Physics
ISBN:9781305079137
Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar Torres
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course ...
Physics
ISBN:9781305960961
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Stars and Galaxies
Physics
ISBN:9781305120785
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning