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What is a Chandrasekhar mass and how does it relate to a supernova?
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∙ 12y ago
A Chandrasekhar mass is the maximum mass limit (about 1.4 times the mass of the Sun) that a white dwarf star can have before it collapses under its own gravity and triggers a supernova explosion. When a white dwarf accretes matter from a companion star or merges with another white dwarf, exceeding the Chandrasekhar mass, it can collapse and explode as a Type Ia supernova.
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Why will the sun never explode in a supernova?
The Sun is not massive enough to undergo a supernova explosion. A supernova occurs when a massive star runs out of fuel, collapses under its own gravity, and then explodes. The Sun is not massive enough to go through this process and will instead eventually evolve into a red giant and then into a white dwarf.
The minimum mass of a star required for it to become a neutron star is?
Approximately 1.4 times the mass of the sun, known as the Chandrasekhar limit, is required for a star to become a neutron star. If a star has a mass greater than this limit, it will likely undergo a supernova explosion and collapse into a neutron star.
What is the supernovae trigger model?
The supernova trigger model proposes that the explosion of a white dwarf in a binary star system can be triggered by the accretion of material from its companion star. As the white dwarf gains mass, it eventually reaches a critical limit, known as the Chandrasekhar limit, leading to a runaway nuclear fusion reaction and resulting in a supernova explosion.
What kind of star is most likely to become a white-dwarf supernova?
A white dwarf supernova occurs when a white dwarf in a binary system accretes matter from its companion star, surpassing its Chandrasekhar limit. This type of supernova is not usually associated with a specific type of star, but with the evolutionary path of the white dwarf in a binary system.
What can you conclude about a Type I supernova?
A Type I supernova occurs in binary systems where a white dwarf star accretes matter from a companion star, exceeding the white dwarf's mass limit and causing it to explode. These supernovae lack hydrogen lines in their spectra, suggesting they are caused by a different mechanism than Type II supernovae.
Why will the sun never explode in a supernova?
The Sun is not massive enough to undergo a supernova explosion. A supernova occurs when a massive star runs out of fuel, collapses under its own gravity, and then explodes. The Sun is not massive enough to go through this process and will instead eventually evolve into a red giant and then into a white dwarf.
When a white dwarf exceeds the Chandrasekhar limit what happens?
When a white dwarf exceeds the Chandrasekhar limit of about 1.4 times the mass of the Sun, electron degeneracy pressure is no longer able to support the star against gravity. This leads to the collapse of the white dwarf, resulting in a supernova explosion.
What is Chandrasekhar's Limit?
Chandrasekhar's limit is the maximum mass that a white dwarf star can have before collapsing under its own gravity and starting nuclear fusion. This limit is about 1.4 times the mass of the Sun. If a white dwarf exceeds this limit, it can collapse into a neutron star or a black hole.
What is the maximum size of a white dwarf?
The maximum size of a white dwarf is about 1.4 times the mass of the Sun, known as the Chandrasekhar limit. If a white dwarf exceeds this limit, it can collapse further and ignite as a supernova.
The minimum mass of a star required for it to become a neutron star is?
Approximately 1.4 times the mass of the sun, known as the Chandrasekhar limit, is required for a star to become a neutron star. If a star has a mass greater than this limit, it will likely undergo a supernova explosion and collapse into a neutron star.
What neutron star is smaller than white dwarfs are thought to be remnants of .?
A neutron star is the remnant of a star, which - at the end of its life, and AFTER possibly losing a lot of mass (for instance, in a supernova explosion) has a remaining mass that is greater than the so-called Chandrasekhar limit.
What happens if the mass of a white dwarf reaches the 1.4 solar mass limit?
If the mass of a white dwarf reaches the 1.4 solar mass limit, it will no longer be able to support itself against gravity through electron degeneracy pressure. This will trigger a runaway fusion reaction of carbon and oxygen, leading to a supernova explosion known as a Type Ia supernova.
What is the supernovae trigger model?
The supernova trigger model proposes that the explosion of a white dwarf in a binary star system can be triggered by the accretion of material from its companion star. As the white dwarf gains mass, it eventually reaches a critical limit, known as the Chandrasekhar limit, leading to a runaway nuclear fusion reaction and resulting in a supernova explosion.
What kind of star is most likely to become a white-dwarf supernova?
A white dwarf supernova occurs when a white dwarf in a binary system accretes matter from its companion star, surpassing its Chandrasekhar limit. This type of supernova is not usually associated with a specific type of star, but with the evolutionary path of the white dwarf in a binary system.
Why do some stars create a black hole and others do not?
Only the largest stars, that end as supernovae and leave a core 3 or more times as massive as the Sun in the solar system in which we exist can form black holes. Post-supernova cores that do not reach this mass of 3 solar masses are simply not massive enough to be crunched to the singularity of a black hole. More scientifically, the mass that must be exceeded to collapse into a black hole is called the Chandrasekhar limit, after the physicist, a certain Mr. Chandrasekhar.
When does a type 2 supernova begin to explode?
A massive red supergiant star will eventually explode as Type II supernova. That happens when the high mass star has run out of its nuclear "fuel". A series of nuclear fusion reactions finally ends at the nucleus of iron. A massive core of iron remains and iron can't be used to produce energy by nuclear fusion. The core collapses under gravity and the energy released throws the outer layers of the star into space in a supernova explosion. This is a Type II supernova. Sometimes it's referred to as a "core collapse" supernova, for obvious reasons. A bit more detail, if needed: A "high mass star" in this context is one with a mass of at least 8 times the mass the Sun. They develop into red supergiant stars. The mass of the iron core needs to be over the "Chandrasekhar mass" of about 1.4 times the Sun's mass. A core of that mass is unable to resist gravitational collapse. Depending on the mass of the iron core, collapse may stop at a "neutron star". Otherwise there is a complete collapse to a "black hole". See "Sources and related links", below.
Which scientist proved that the stars with mass less than 1.44 times the mass of the sun end up as white dwarfs?
S. Chandrasekhar
