Suppose that a white dwarf is gaining mass through accretion in a binary system.What happens if the mass someday reaches the 1.4 solar mass limit?
A)The white dwarf will collapse in size,becoming a neutron star.
B)The white dwarf will undergo a nova explosion.
C)The white dwarf will explode completely as a white dwarf supernova.
D)The white dwarf will collapse to become a black hole.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a white dwarf in a binary system gains mass through accretion and reaches the 1.4 solar mass limit, it undergoes a runaway fusion process where the carbon and oxygen in its core begin to fuse rapidly. This leads to a catastrophic explosion called a white dwarf supernova, which completely destroys the white dwarf. Option A is incorrect because a neutron star is formed when a massive star undergoes a supernova explosion and its core collapses. Option B is incorrect because a nova explosion occurs when material accreted onto a white dwarf undergoes fusion on its surface, leading to a sudden increase in brightness that fades over time. Option D is incorrect because a black hole is formed when the core of a massive star collapses to a point of infinite density, not from the explosion of a white dwarf.

Suppose That a White Dwarf Is Gaining Mass Through Accretion