How Do Stars Lose Energy Through Rotation and Magnetic Fields?

[giann_tee]

I miss sometimes the most basic things in physics. (I think they are basic). For example, recent reading about stars in space made me wonder about few things...

1. stars seem to lose energy if they rotate, via magnetic field (eg. neutron stars)
"The energy emitted by common pulsars has its origin in the slowing down of their rotation" (10^8 - 10^11 T)
"The magnetic filed around a rotating neutron star carries plasma with it. At a certain distance the speed of plasma approaches the speed of light. At this distance the radiating regions emit radiation in a narrow forward beam"

2. "Binary systems lose energy by gravitational radiation, and eventually the two components should merge"

 

[Valerie Park]

3. How do stars remain stable despite the fact that they continuously lose energy?1. The energy loss from a rotating neutron star comes from its magnetic field, which causes the star to slow down over time. This is due to the interaction between the magnetic field and the plasma flowing around it. When the plasma reaches the light speed, the particles emit radiation in a narrow beam forward. 2. Binary systems are two stars that are close enough together in space that they interact gravitationally with each other. This interaction will cause them to lose energy through gravitational radiation, which can lead to the two stars eventually merging. 3. Stars remain stable due to a balance between their internal pressure and the gravitational pull of all the material within them. The energy lost through processes like magnetic fields, gravitational radiation, etc. is replenished by the heat produced by nuclear fusion reactions in the star's core. This process helps to maintain the star's equilibrium and keep it from collapsing.

 

[sir-pinski]

It is not uncommon for people to miss or forget about basic concepts in physics, especially if they haven't studied it in depth or regularly. However, it is always a good idea to revisit these concepts and refresh our understanding, as they form the foundation of our understanding of the world around us.

Regarding your observations about losing energy via electromagnetic (EM) fields and gravitational fields, these are indeed basic principles in physics. Let's dive a little deeper into these concepts.

Firstly, the statement about stars losing energy via their magnetic fields is referring to a phenomenon known as pulsars. Pulsars are highly magnetized, rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation. As these stars rotate, their strong magnetic fields interact with the surrounding plasma, causing it to accelerate and emit radiation. This process results in the loss of rotational energy, which is then emitted as radiation.

Secondly, the concept of binary systems losing energy through gravitational radiation is a consequence of Einstein's theory of general relativity. According to this theory, massive objects, such as stars, create a curvature in space-time. When two massive objects, such as stars in a binary system, orbit each other, they create ripples in this curvature, which we refer to as gravitational waves. As these waves carry energy, the two stars lose energy and eventually merge together.

These are just a few examples of how energy can be lost through EM and gravitational fields in the universe. There are many other fascinating examples, such as black holes merging and releasing enormous amounts of energy in the form of gravitational waves, or the interaction between the Earth's magnetic field and the solar wind.

In summary, it is always good to revisit basic concepts in physics, as they can help us better understand the world around us and appreciate the amazing phenomena that occur in the universe. Keep exploring and learning, and you will continue to uncover new and exciting things about the world of physics.