A neutron star is the compact remnant of a very large star that has exploded. Su

Question

A neutron star is the compact remnant of a very large star that has exploded. Suppose that right after one such explosion, when much of the star's inertia has been blasted away, the star's remaining core has an inertia of 40 times 10^30 kg, a radius of 13 times 10^8 m, and completes one revolution every five days. What is the new spin rate once the core gravitationally collapses into a neutron star of radius 23 km? Assume negligible loss of inertia during the collapse. Express your answer using 2 significant digits.

Explanation / Answer

Applying conservation of angular momentum

moment of Inertia * angular velocity = constant

=> (4 * 1030 * 13 * 108 * 13 * 108) * 1/(5 * 24 * 3600) = (4 * 1030 * 23000 * 23000) * w

=> w = 7395.15 rev/s

Thus, new spin rate =   7395.15 revolutions per sec .

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