Determining New Angular Velocity

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a star transitioning to a white dwarf and seeks to determine the resulting angular velocity after mass loss and contraction. The subject area includes concepts of angular momentum and rotational dynamics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relevance of the moment of inertia and the conservation of angular momentum. Questions arise about the necessity of knowing the moment of inertia and how to express the conservation of angular momentum in this context.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring the implications of conservation laws and the effects of mass shedding on angular momentum. Some guidance has been offered regarding the conservation of angular momentum, but no consensus has been reached on the specific equations to use.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the absence of external torques and the implications this has for the conservation of angular momentum. There is also mention of the angular momentum of the shed mass, which remains unclear.

crushedcorn
Messages
7
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A star with mass 2.4x1030 kg and diameter 1.7x109 m rotates once every 34 Earth days. It eventually dies and becomes a white dwarf, shedding about half of its mass and contracting to a diameter of 1.9x108 m. If we approximate the star as a perfect sphere, what is its resulting angular velocity?

Initial star r = 8.5x108 m
Initial star m = 2.4x1030 kg
Initial star ω = 1 rev/34 days = 1.85x107 rad/s
White dwarf r = 9.5x107 m

Homework Equations


I=(2/5)MR2

The Attempt at a Solution


I'm getting really stuck on this one. I can determine I for the initial star (I=(2/5)(2.4x1030 kg)(8.5x108)2 m=6.94x1047 kgxm2, but from there I'm not sure where to go. I'm not even sure if that's relevant. I'm not looking for a handout here, but any guidance would be appreciated!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Why do you need to know I?
 
There are no external torques in this problem, therefore angular momentum is conserved.

h = Iω
 
Yes, so can you write an equation that shows this?
 
sun18 said:
There are no external torques in this problem, therefore angular momentum is conserved.

h = Iω
Yes, but be careful. What do you think the angular momentum of the shed mass will be at the end?
 

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
23
Views
2K
Replies
335
Views
17K
Replies
18
Views
7K
Replies
10
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K