Answer to Question #50701 in Astronomy | Astrophysics for Nikhil

Question

3.
a) Discuss Jeans criterion for the formation of stars and obtain an expression for Jeans mass
and Jeans length.

b) A supernova explosion takes place at the distance of 4 pc. If the absolute magnitude of
the supernova is −25, calculate its apparent magnitude. Will the supernova be brighter
than the Sun? Justify your answer.

c) What is the qualitative difference between a main sequence star and a compact star?
Show that, as the mass of the white dwarf increases, its radius decreases. Briefly discuss
the consequences of this result.