Guidelines

What is the core of a supernova?

What is the core of a supernova?

In a typical Type II supernova, the newly formed neutron core has an initial temperature of about 100 billion kelvins, 104 times the temperature of the Sun’s core. Much of this thermal energy must be shed for a stable neutron star to form, otherwise the neutrons would “boil away”.

What is the small core left after a supernova called?

neutron star
The remnants of the stellar core which are left after the supernovae explosion will follow one of two paths: neutron star or black hole.

What happens in the core of a supernova star?

As the star runs out of nuclear fuel, some of its mass flows into its core. Eventually, the core is so heavy that it cannot withstand its own gravitational force. The core collapses, which results in the giant explosion of a supernova.

What is a collapsed core of a supernova?

Core collapse supernovae occur when the iron core of a massive star collapses due to the force of gravity. Once the density in the core exceeds that of nuclear matter, the core rebounds generating pressure waves that propagate outward.

How does a type II supernova core collapse?

The diagram below shows a great cartoon and caption from the wikipedia page on Type II Supernovae, and depicts the various stages of the core-collapse. “Within a massive, evolved star (a) the onion-layered shells of elements undergo fusion, forming a nickel-iron core (b) that reaches Chandrasekhar-mass and starts to collapse.

How does a supernova occur in a star system?

A supernova happens where there is a change in the core, or center, of a star. A change can occur in two different ways, with both resulting in a supernova. The first type of supernova happens in binary star systems.

Why are supernovae important to the interstellar medium?

Supernovae are a major source of elements in the interstellar medium from oxygen to rubidium. The expanding shock waves of supernovae can trigger the formation of new stars. Supernova remnants might be a major source of cosmic rays.

Which is the leftover remnant of a supernova?

A supernova of a star more than about 10 times the size of our sun may leave behind the densest objects in the universe— black holes. The Crab Nebula is the leftover, or remnant, of a massive star in our Milky Way that died 6,500 light-years away. Astronomers and careful observers saw the supernova in the year 1054.