Question

The Crab Pulsar is pulsing in visible light 30 times per second. Why?

a) It's a mystery; no one really knows.

b) A jet ejects energy and particles from a hot spot 30 times per second.

c) It rotates 30 times per second.

d) It is eclipsed by a companion 30 times per second.

Answer 1

The Crab Pulsar pulses in visible light 30 times per second because it rotates 30 times per second. Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit beams of radiation from their magnetic poles. The regularity of the pulses from the Crab Pulsar is due to its young age and short period.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Crab Pulsar pulses in visible light 30 times per second because it rotates 30 times per second.

Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit beams of radiation from their magnetic poles. As the neutron star rotates, the beams of radiation sweep across our line of sight, creating the appearance of pulses.

The regularity of the pulses from the Crab Pulsar is due to its young age and short period. Older pulsars have already slowed down, emitting only as radio pulsars with longer periods.