Centripetal acceleration of Neutron stars

AI Thread Summary
Neutron stars, with radii of approximately 10 km, are the remnants of massive stars. To calculate the centripetal acceleration of matter on a neutron star's surface at the equator, the formula a = w^2 * r is used, where w is the angular velocity. The user initially calculated the acceleration as 4.38 x 10^7 m/s^2, but the answer key indicates it should be 4.37 x 10^10 m/s^2. The error occurred due to using 10 km instead of converting it to meters (1000 m). Accurate unit conversion is crucial for correct calculations in physics.
vu10758
Messages
95
Reaction score
0
Neutron stars represent the final stage of life for some massive stars. Typically, they have radii of 10 km. Determine the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration for a piece of neutron star matter on the star surface at the equator (so the matter moves in a circle of radius 10km). Assume the neutron star rotates once every .003 seconds.

This is what I did.

a = w^2 * r
a = (2pi/.003)^2 * (10)
a = 4.38 x 10^7 m/s^2

The answer key tells me that the acceleration is 4.37 x 10^10 m/s^2. Where did I go wrong?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
remember to convert everything into SI units. You used 10km when you should have used 1000m :p
 
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Back
Top