ISP 205 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: White Dwarf, Degenerate Matter, Thermostat
Document Summary
How does the life of a high-mass star differ from the sun"s life: all the above. What supports a white dwarf against the crush of gravity: electron degeneracy pressure. What happens to a white dwarf when it accretes enough matter to reach the: 1. 4 solar masses. How big is a white dwarf: the size of earth. What are the life stages of a high-mass star: they are similar to the life stages of a low-mass star. How do high-mass stars make the elements necessary for life: higher masses produce higher core temperatures that enable fusion of heavier elements. How does a high-mass star die: the iron core collapses, leading to a supernova. Thought question: the binary star algol consists of a 3. 7msun main-sequence star and a. How are the lives of stars with close companions different: stars with close companions can exchange mass, altering the usual life stories of stars.