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The density of a white dwarf is?
It varies, but it is several tons per cubic centimeter - i.e., millions of times as dense as water.
How is a white dwarf different form a neutron star?
A white dwarf is made up mostly of electrons and protons, while a neutron star is composed mostly of neutrons. Neutron stars are much denser and more massive than white dwarfs, with gravity strong enough to overcome electron degeneracy pressure. White dwarfs typically form from the remnants of low to medium mass stars, while neutron stars are created in supernova explosions of massive stars.
What is the different between white dwarf and a sun?
White dwarves have run out of fuel; therefore they have stopped producing energy, through nuclear fusion. Also, they are very small - smaller than planet Earth, while (for comparison) our Sun has 109 times the diameter of Earth; they are very dense (a cubic centimeter of white dwarf matter has a mass of several tons), and fairly hot - though, since they don't produce energy, they will gradually cool down.
What is the explosion of a dwarf star called?
The explosion of a dwarf star is called a nova or a supernova, depending on the type of dwarf star and the circumstances of the explosion. Novas are less powerful explosions caused by a white dwarf siphoning material from a companion star, while supernovas are much more energetic explosions that can occur in white dwarfs or other types of stars.
What causes a white dwarf supernova?
A white dwarf supernova occurs when a white dwarf star in a binary system accretes material from a companion star, causing it to exceed the Chandrasekhar limit (1.4 solar masses). The core then undergoes a runaway nuclear fusion reaction, leading to a catastrophic explosion that destroys the white dwarf.
