Suppose a white dwarf is gaining mass because of accretion from a binary companion. What happens if its mass reaches the 1.4 solar mass limit?
A)The white dwarf immediately collapses into a black hole, disappearing from view.
B)The white dwarf undergoes a collapse and expels the excess mass in a nova eruption.
C)A white dwarf can never gain enough mass to reach the limit because a strong stellar wind prevents the accreting material from reaching it in the first place.
D)The white dwarf (which is made mostly of carbon)suddenly detonates carbon fusion and this creates a white dwarf supernova explosion.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If a white dwarf gains enough mass to reach the Chandrasekhar limit of 1.4 solar masses, it will undergo a Type Ia supernova explosion. The sudden ignition of carbon fusion causes a runaway nuclear reaction that completely disrupts the star, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the process. This process is completely different from the collapse and explosion seen in a Type II supernova, which involves a massive star running out of fuel and collapsing in on itself.

Suppose a White Dwarf Is Gaining Mass Because of Accretion