/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Q89CE When a star has nearly bumped up... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

When a star has nearly bumped up its intimal fuel, it may become a white dwarf. It is crushed under its own enormous gravitational forces to the point at which the exclusion principle for the electrons becomes a factor. A smaller size would decrease the gravitational potential energy, but assuming the electrons to be packed into the lowest energy states consistent with the exclusion principle, "squeezing" the potential well necessarily increases the energies of all the electrons (by shortening their wavelengths). If gravitation and the electron exclusion principle are the only factors, there is minimum total energy and corresponding equilibrium radius.

(a) Treat the electrons in a white dwarf as a quantum gas. The minimum energy allowed by the exclusion principle (see Exercise 67) is
Uclocimns=310(3Ï€2h3me32V)23N53

Note that as the volume Vis decreased, the energy does increase. For a neutral star. the number of electrons, N, equals the number of protons. If protons account for half of the white dwarf's mass M (neutrons accounting for the other half). Show that the minimum electron energy may be written

Uelectrons=9h280me(3Ï€2M5mp5)131R2

Where, R is the star's radius?

(b) The gravitational potential energy of a sphere of mass Mand radius Ris given by

Ugray=-35GM2R

Taking both factors into account, show that the minimum total energy occurs when

R=3h28G(3Ï€2me3mp5M)13

(c) Evaluate this radius for a star whose mass is equal to that of our Sun 2x1030kg.

(d) White dwarfs are comparable to the size of Earth. Does the value in part (c) agree?

Short Answer

Expert verified

(a) The minimum electron energy is equal to Ueiectrons=9h280me3Ï€2M5mp5131R2

(b) the minimum total energy occurs when radius of star R=3h28G3Ï€2me3mp5M13.

(c) the radius of a star with mass as that of our sun is 7x106m.

(d) It is agreed that white dwarfs and the earth are approximately of same size.

Step by step solution

01

A concept:

The minimum energy that is allowed by the exclusion principle is given by,

Uelectrons=310(3Ï€2h3me32V)23N53

Formula used:

The expression for the gravitational energy of a sphere of mass M and radius Ris given by,

Ug=3GM25R

The expression for the volume of the sphere is given by.

V=43Ï€¸é3

02

The minimum energy by the exclusion principle

The minimum energy that is allowed by the exclusion principle is

Uelectrons=3103Ï€2h3me32V23N53=3h210me3Ï€2V23N53=3h210me3Ï€243Ï€¸é323N53=3h210me9Ï€4R323N53

On further solving,

Uelectron=3h210me81Ï€21613N53R2Uelectron=3h210meR281Ï€2N51613

03

Number of protons:

Since star is assumed electrically neutral thus the number of protons N that makes the half of dwarf's mass M is expressed as:

M2=NmPN=M2mP

Put the value of N in equation (I),

role="math" localid="1659165527416" Uelectron=3h210meR281Ï€2M2mp51613=3h210meR281Ï€2M532mp51613=3h210meR281Ï€2M5512mp513=3h210meR2383Ï€2M5mp513

On further solving,

role="math" localid="1659165629679" Uelectron=9h280meR23Ï€2M5mp513

Therefore, the minimum electron energy is equal to Uelectron=9h280meR23Ï€2M5mp513.

04

(b) Formula for gravitation energy of sphere and total energy of star:

Formula used:

The expression for the total energy of the star is given by,

UToral=Uelectron+Ug

The expression for the gravitational energy of a sphere of mass Mand radius Ris given by,

Ug=3GM25R

05

Total energy of the star:

The total energy of the star is calculated as:

UTotal=Uelectron+Ug=9h280mlR23Ï€2M5mp513+3GM25R

The minimum total energy is calculated by taking its derivative with respect radius equal to zero.

ddRUTotal=0ddR9h280meR23Ï€2M5mp513-3GM25R=0-29h280meR33Ï€2M5mp513--13GM25R2=0-9h280meR33Ï€2M5mp513+3GM25R2=0

On further solving,

GM2R2=3h28meR33Ï€2M5mp513GM2=3h28meR33Ï€2M5mp513=3h28G3Ï€2me3mp5M13

Therefore, the minimum total energy occurs when radius of star role="math" localid="1659167163703" R=3h28G3Ï€2me3mp5M13.

06

(c) Expression for radius of stars:

The mass of sun is m = 2x1030kg.

Formula used:

The expression for the radius of the stars given by,

R=3h28G3Ï€2me3mp5M13

07

Radius of star:

The radius of the star is calculated as:

R=3h28G3π2me3mp5M13=31.055×10-34J·s286.67×10-11N.m2/kg33.1429.1×10-31Kg31.67×10-27kg52×1030kg13=6.26×10-590.00151×1019813=6.26×10-59×0.11T4×1066R=0.713×107m=7.13×106m=7×106m

Therefore, the radius of a star with mass as that of our sun is7x106m .

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.