Ursa
- 11
- 2
- Homework Statement
- A pulsar is a rapidly rotating neutron star that emits a radio beam the way a lighthouse emits a light beam. We receive a radio pulse for each rotation of the star. The period T of rotation is found by measuring the time between pulses. Suppose a pulsar has a period of rotation of T = 0.0178 s that is increasing at the rate of 9.27 x 10-8 s/y. (a) What is the pulsar's angular acceleration ? (b) If is constant, how many years from now will the pulsar stop rotating? (c) Suppose the pulsar originated in a supernova explosion seen 1160 years ago. Assuming constant \alpha , find the initial T
- Relevant Equations
- T=\frac {2\pi}{\omega}
for (a) ##T=\frac {2\pi}{\omega}##
$$\omega=\frac {2\pi}{T}$$
$$\frac{d \omega}{dt}=\frac {-2\pi}{T^2} \frac {dT}{dt} $$
$$\alpha=\frac {-2\pi}{(2.94*10^-15)^2} = 7.27*10^29 rad/s^2$$
for (b) I'm understand that it's infinity, because the period is increasing indefinitely, so it's slowing down forever.
But I don't know how to express that in formula, and infinity is not something I can input in the homework software.
So I must be wrong about it, but don't know how to get the correct answer.
(c) I don't have anything here.
$$\omega=\frac {2\pi}{T}$$
$$\frac{d \omega}{dt}=\frac {-2\pi}{T^2} \frac {dT}{dt} $$
$$\alpha=\frac {-2\pi}{(2.94*10^-15)^2} = 7.27*10^29 rad/s^2$$
for (b) I'm understand that it's infinity, because the period is increasing indefinitely, so it's slowing down forever.
But I don't know how to express that in formula, and infinity is not something I can input in the homework software.
So I must be wrong about it, but don't know how to get the correct answer.
(c) I don't have anything here.