What is a supernova?
Date: 1993 - 1999
What is a supernova? I hear people talking about it all the time in
class. But I don't know what it really is. It bothers me so please answer me.
Fusion occurs deep within a star and results in tremendous amounts of
radiation. The rest of the star is kept from collapsing by the resulting
radiation pressure. The fusion stops when all the fusible elements have been
used up, then the star collapses in on itself due to its own gravity. Actually there's still some
fusible elements left: that's what causes the huge explosion when the star
collapses. It all also depends on the original mass of the star. Some
supernovas leave behind a neutron star, pulsar, or maybe a black hole.
John (e-mail hawley)
Although I think that John's note may have gotten to the heart of the
matter, you may not have understood all the words. I can try to help you on the
ones that you didn't understand.
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Update: June 2012