Star whose pressure support is degenerate electrons.

[the ads 13]

My professor gave us a question to think about for discussion next week. He asked how the radius of a star, who is composed of ionized hydrogen and degenerate electrons, varies with mass. I am not quite sure where to start. How could I estimate the radius?

 

[Chronos]

Your professor is asking a question that requires you to consider hydrostatic equilibrium.

 

[marcus]

My professor gave us a question to think about for discussion next week. He asked how the radius of a star, who is composed of ionized hydrogen and degenerate electrons, varies with mass. I am not quite sure where to start. How could I estimate the radius?

If the pressure support is degenerate electrons then you are talking about "electron degeneracy pressure"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_degeneracy_pressure
That might be a place to start.

 

[Radrook]

My professor gave us a question to think about for discussion next week. He asked how the radius of a star, who is composed of ionized hydrogen and degenerate electrons, varies with mass. I am not quite sure where to start. How could I estimate the radius?

You might find these two links helpful as well.

White dwarf star matter/pressure radius correlation.
http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/ast122/lectures/lec17.html


Lecture 19: Extreme Stars
White Dwarfs & Neutron Stars
http://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~pogge/Ast162/Unit3/extreme.html