Calculating Neutrino Energy Released in Supernova 1987A using Flux and Distance

Qyzren
Messages
41
Reaction score
0
The neutrino flux from supernova 1987A was estimated to be 1.3e14 m^-2 at the Earth. SN 1987A occurred in the Large Magellanic cloud, which is located at a distance of 50 kpc. If the average energy per neutrino was 4.2 MeV, estimate the amount of energy released in the form of neutrinos during the supernova explosion

Homework Equations


electron volt = 1.602e-19 J
pc = 3.086e16 m

The Attempt at a Solution


Answer says: 2.6e45 J

I can't seem to get the answer... :(
any help will be appreciated :)
i was thinking since flux falls off ~ 1/d².
so i tried E = flux *d²*avg energy of neutrino
1.3e14*(50000*3.086e16)²*4.2e6*1.602e-19
=3.258e44 J.
So I'm off by more than a factor of 10... :(
What am i doing wrong??
 
Physics news on Phys.org
the area of a spehere is 4 \pi r^2

So you should multiply with 4pi = 12,.. =)

also check the numericals, 1.3e14*(50000*3.086e16)²*4.2e6*1.602e-19 = 2.08*10^44 J
 
oh! Thank you
(yeh i think i typed something wrong in the calculator before).
 
Last edited:
Thread 'Need help understanding this figure on energy levels'
This figure is from "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by Griffiths (3rd edition). It is available to download. It is from page 142. I am hoping the usual people on this site will give me a hand understanding what is going on in the figure. After the equation (4.50) it says "It is customary to introduce the principal quantum number, ##n##, which simply orders the allowed energies, starting with 1 for the ground state. (see the figure)" I still don't understand the figure :( Here is...
Thread 'Understanding how to "tack on" the time wiggle factor'
The last problem I posted on QM made it into advanced homework help, that is why I am putting it here. I am sorry for any hassle imposed on the moderators by myself. Part (a) is quite easy. We get $$\sigma_1 = 2\lambda, \mathbf{v}_1 = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_2 = \lambda, \mathbf{v}_2 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_3 = -\lambda, \mathbf{v}_3 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ -1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} $$ There are two ways...
Back
Top