What is the average density and free-fall acceleration of a white dwarf?

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SUMMARY

The average density of a white dwarf with a mass of 0.650 solar masses and a radius of 0.500 Earth radii is calculated to be 9.56 × 109 kg/m³. The calculation involves using the formula for density, which is mass divided by volume. The mass is derived from the solar mass, and the volume is calculated using the radius in meters. The free-fall acceleration on the surface of the white dwarf can also be determined using Newton's gravitational constant and the mass of the white dwarf.

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Homework Statement



After a star like the Sun has exhausted most of the hydrogen in its core it expands and cools to form a red giant. Eventually, when it has exhausted all its nuclear fuel, it sheds its outer layers and contracts and becomes a white dwarf of similar size to the Earth as shown below. Note that the mass of the sun is 2 × 1030 kg, the radius of the Earth is 6,380 km and Newton's gravitational constant G is 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2.

Consider a white dwarf of 0.650 solar mass and 0.500 Earth radii.

(a) Calculate the average density of the white dwarf

(b) Calculate the free-fall acceleration on the surface of the white dwarf

The Attempt at a Solution



(a) I believe the average density is given by mass/volume

mass is 0.650 \times (2 \times 10^{30})=1.3 \times 10^{30}

volume is \frac{4}{3}\pi (0.5 \times 6380)^3 = 1.35 \times 10^{11}

m/v=9.6 × 1018

But the correct answer is 9560000000 kg/m³. I appreciate it if anyone could show me what's wrong with my working :confused:
 
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You used the Earth radius in km, so you calculated the density in kg/km^3, not kg/m^3.
 

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