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(a) A low mass star like the sun might have a central density of 189 g/cm 3 and

ID: 1998493 • Letter: #

Question

(a) A low mass star like the sun might have a central density of 189 g/cm3 and be 80.0% 1H and 20.0% 4He. What is the number of mol/cm3 for the 1H, the 4He, and the total number of nucleons plus electrons?

1H = ______ mol/cm3
4He = ______ mol/cm3
Total = _______ mol/cm3


(b) Suppose the same star has a central temperature of T = 15.70 million K. Find the gas pressure and radiation pressure at the center of the star

Pg = ______ N/m2
Pr = ______ N/m2

(c) What percent of the star's central pressure comes from radiation?

_________ %

Explanation / Answer

a) H = 189*0.80 g/cm^3 = 151.2 g/cm^3

               = 151.2 mol/cm^3

He = 189*0.20 g/cm^3 = 37.8 g/cm^3

              = 9.95 mol/cm^3

total = 161.15 mol/cm^3

b) by ideal gas law,

pv = nRT

Pg = 161.15*8.3*15.7e6/1e-6

      = 2.1*10^16 N/m^2

Pr = 1/3 aT^4

     = 1/3*0.1e-6*(15.7e6)^4

    = 2.025*10^21 N/m^2

c) percentage = 100*2.1e16/2.025e21

         = 0.001037 %

                        =