Pulsars and Their Effects

The lecture discusses the energy content and loss in pulsars, comparing their slowdown to Earth's rotation due to tidal forces. It explains rotational kinetic energy and how pulsars lose energy over time. The energy output of pulsars is compared to the Sun, revealing pulsars emit energy equivalent to 100,000 suns. The lecture also explores the existence of planets around pulsars and their potential effects.

What causes the Earth to slow down its rotation over time?

• Magnetic field interactions

• Gravitational pull from the Sun

• Atmospheric friction

• Tidal forces due to the Moon

What is the formula for calculating the rotational kinetic energy of a pulsar?

• F = ma

• mgh

• 1/2 mv^2

• 1/2 Iω^2

What is the main source of energy loss in a pulsar?

• Rotational kinetic energy

• Nuclear fusion

• Magnetic field decay

• Gravitational waves

How often does the pulsar inside the Crab Nebula complete one rotation?

• Every 1 second

• Every 0.033 seconds

• Every 10 seconds

• Every 0.1 seconds

How does the energy loss of a pulsar compare to the energy output of the Sun?

• It is equal to the Sun's energy output

• It is half of the Sun's energy output

• It is ten times the Sun's energy output

• It is a hundred thousand times the Sun's energy output

What is the approximate energy output of the Sun every second?

• 6 x 10^26 joules

• 2 x 10^26 joules

• 4 x 10^26 joules

• 8 x 10^26 joules

What causes the nebula around a pulsar to light up?

• The presence of dark matter

• The gravitational pull of nearby stars

• The pulsar's vast energy output

• The pulsar's magnetic field

What is the effect of a pulsar's energy output on its surrounding nebula?

• It causes the nebula to collapse

• It causes the nebula to become a black hole

• It causes the nebula to emit various types of radiation

• It causes the nebula to expand indefinitely

What is a potential effect of a pulsar explosion on nearby planets?

• Increase in atmospheric pressure

• Change in orbital radius

• Increase in surface temperature

• Formation of new moons

What happens to the atmosphere of planets close to a pulsar explosion?

• It is blown away

• It becomes denser

• It becomes more oxygen-rich

• It forms new layers