The End of Stars Forum Discussion
One of the questions I asked during our academic forum
discussions on “The End of Stars” was this question
How was that when the critical Chandrasekhar mass limit is
reached, the electrons can no longer resist each other and gravity overcomes
their electromagnetic repulsion?
When that happens the white dwarf can no longer be supported
and the core collapses further, fusing electrons and protons into neutrons now
held up by the mutual repulsion of neutrons to become a neutron star.
My question is how was that gravity which I thought is the
weakest of all forces has now become the strongest overpowering even nuclear
forces that kept protons and electrons apart.
The best guess I can give is that the mass of the star must
be been so enormous, maybe 3 or more solar masses that the product of their
masses is so colossal that they overwhelmed the nuclear forces that kept the
protons and electrons apart.
I am unsure as I am not a physicist let alone a nuclear
physicist. I am just learning fascinating facts in this interesting course.
I really hope Dr. Grant PhD (Astrophysics) can explain to
clarify
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