Question

A neutron star consists of neutrons at approximately nuclear density. Estimate, for a 10-km-diameter neutron star its mass number, its mass, the acceleration of gravity at its surface.

Answer 1

a) 7.2*10^55

b) 1.2*10^29 kg

c) 3.2*10^11 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

Given a diameter of 10 km, that's a radius of 5 km.

We first attempt to find its mass number

A = (r/1.2*10^-15)³

A = (5/1.5*10^-15)³

A = 7.2*10^55

This gotten mass number is then multiplied by the mass of each neutron in the star. With each neutron being, 1.7*10^-27

M = 7.5*10^55 * 1.7*10^-27

M = 1.2*10^29 kg

And finally, using the formula

g = GM/r², we can find its acceleration due to gravity.

g = (6.67*10^-11 * 1.2*10^29) / 5000²

g = 8*10^18 / 2.5*10^7

g = 3.2*10^11 m/s