Question

What will happen to a white dwarf in a binary system if it gains enough mass from its companion star to exceed 1.4 Solar masses?

a. The mass build-up will cause a very bright Nova event

b. It will be completely destroyed in a sudden supernova explosion

c. Nothing! White dwarfs are dead stellar corpses and cannot be revived

d. Only if the mass build-up exceeds 3 solar masses will it explode

Answer 1

If a white dwarf in a binary system gains enough mass to exceed 1.4 Solar masses, it will undergo a violent explosion known as a type Ia supernova.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a binary system, if a white dwarf gains enough mass from its companion star to exceed 1.4 Solar masses, it will no longer be able to support itself as a white dwarf and it will begin to contract. As it contracts, it heats up and new nuclear reactions can begin in the degenerate core. Eventually, when the white dwarf reaches the Chandrasekhar mass limit, it will undergo a violent explosion known as a type Ia supernova.