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AST-13

Chandrasekhar mass

M_Ch ≈ 1.456 (2/μ_e)² M_⊙. White-dwarf mass limit.

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StarsChandrasekhar

Governing equation

MCh≈1.456 (2/μe)2M⊙M_{\mathrm{Ch}}\approx 1.456\,(2/\mu_e)^2 M_\odot

where

\mu_e
Mean e per nucleon (—)
M_{Ch}
Chandrasekhar mass (M_\odot)

Lecture brief

Historical brief

Hubble expansion, Jeans collapse, Eddington luminosity, Bondi accretion and Stefan–Boltzmann stars are the first astrophysical budgets. The sheets scale a star, a cloud and a horizon. This sheet (AST-13 — Chandrasekhar mass) is the form associated with Chandrasekhar. Working symbols: μe\mu_e →\rightarrow MChM_{Ch}. Electron degeneracy versus gravity. Type Ia supernovae sit at this edge.

Purpose

Purpose: compute MChM_{Ch} from μe\mu_e in Astrophysics via MCh≈1.456 (2/μe)2M⊙M_{\mathrm{Ch}}\approx 1.456\,(2/\mu_e)^2 M_\odot M_Ch ≈ 1.456 (2/μ_e)² M_⊙. White-dwarf mass limit. Use it when a real astrophysics question must be answered in SI before a code check.

Live realistic example

In symbols

Live case. Given μe=2.000 —\mu_e = 2.000\,\mathrm{—}, the governing relation MCh≈1.456 (2/μe)2M⊙M_{\mathrm{Ch}}\approx 1.456\,(2/\mu_e)^2 M_\odot yields MCh=1.456 ModotM_{Ch} = 1.456\,\mathrm{M_odot}. A dwarf, a mass bar hitting a ceiling. Move a slider: the numbers are this situation, not a canned story.

Calculator

Inputs

Outputs

  • Chandrasekhar mass M_{Ch}1.456 M_\odot
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AST-13 · star
00:0 / 00:08

Narration of this film

A dwarf, a mass bar hitting a ceiling.

Electron degeneracy versus gravity. Type Ia supernovae sit at this edge.

Reading speed

Watch on YouTube