White Dwarves (2)

• Supported against gravity by pressure of “degenerate electrons”

• Can never be more massive than 1.4 solar masses

• Shining because hot, but SMALL, so not very luminous

• Generating NO MORE ENERGY, just cooling

• DENSE: ~ mass of Sun in object ~ size of Earth!

  • ~1 cubic cm would weigh ~1 ton on Earth

Notes: