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This is because of a law called conservation of angular momentum. If a star - which will usually have some rotation, and therefore some rotational momentum - collapses to a size of 20-30 km., angular momentum is conserved. Since the diameter decreases, it must spin faster. (Angular momentum is the product of a quantity called moment of inertia, which depends on the diameter of an object, and angular velocity.)

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14y ago
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6mo ago

Neutron stars are expected to spin rapidly due to the conservation of angular momentum during their formation. As the core of a massive star collapses, its rotation speeds up due to compression. This results in a compact, highly dense object with a fast spin rate.

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15y ago

There is a law of convservation of rotational momentum. When a star collapses to a neutron star, it will maintain most of its rotational momentum - all of it, if it doesn't manage to lose some of its momentum during the collapse. Maintaining the rotational momentum requires the star to spin faster.

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13y ago

It varies; they will spin slower over time. Some spin once every few milliseconds; others, once every few seconds.

It varies; they will spin slower over time. Some spin once every few milliseconds; others, once every few seconds.

It varies; they will spin slower over time. Some spin once every few milliseconds; others, once every few seconds.

It varies; they will spin slower over time. Some spin once every few milliseconds; others, once every few seconds.

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14y ago

All neutron stars rotate at slightly different speeds, depending on the conditions when they formed. In fact, when astronomers first detected the pulses from rotating neutron stars, or "pulsars", they were called "LGM signals" for "little green men". The signals were so PRECISELY regular that astronomers thought that they couldn't be natural, and that they might be interstellar navigational beacons set up by alien civilizations!

The truth, however, was much more mundane. Darn!

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13y ago

It varies; they will spin slower over time. Some spin once every few milliseconds; others, once every few seconds.

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Q: Why do you expect neutron stars to spin rapidly?
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Why does theory predict that a neutron star should spin fast?

Neutron stars are born from massive stars collapsing, which conserves the original star's angular momentum. Since the original star had a slow rotation, the neutron star that forms from it will have a faster spin due to the conservation of angular momentum.


Two important properties of young neutron stars are?

Rapid rotation: Neutron stars can spin incredibly fast, with some completing hundreds of rotations per second. Strong magnetic fields: Neutron stars have extremely powerful magnetic fields, magnitudes stronger than any other object in the universe, which can influence their behavior and emit radiation.


Why do neutron star spin so rapidly?

Neutron stars spin rapidly due to the conservation of angular momentum. When a massive star collapses into a neutron star, its rotation speed increases dramatically due to the conservation of angular momentum, just like a figure skater spinning faster when they pull their arms in. Additionally, the rapid rotation can be sustained by the incredibly high density and strong gravitational forces present in neutron stars.


What are the unusual properties of neutron stars?

Neutron stars are incredibly dense, with masses greater than the Sun packed into a sphere only about 12 miles in diameter. They have intense magnetic fields and can spin rapidly, emitting periodic pulses of radiation, hence their classification as pulsars. Neutron stars are also believed to contain the densest form of matter in the universe, composed primarily of neutrons.


Pulsars cannot be spinning white dwarfs because?

Pulsars are not spinning white dwarfs because they are neutron stars. Neutron stars are much more massive and compact than white dwarfs, resulting from the collapse of the core of a massive star. Pulsars are rapidly spinning neutron stars that emit beams of radiation from their magnetic poles.

Related questions

Why is a neutron star expected to spin rapidly?

All young neutron stars spin rapidly. You might be confused with a pulsar. See related questions.


Why does theory predict that a neutron star should spin fast?

Neutron stars are born from massive stars collapsing, which conserves the original star's angular momentum. Since the original star had a slow rotation, the neutron star that forms from it will have a faster spin due to the conservation of angular momentum.


Two important properties of young neutron stars are?

Rapid rotation: Neutron stars can spin incredibly fast, with some completing hundreds of rotations per second. Strong magnetic fields: Neutron stars have extremely powerful magnetic fields, magnitudes stronger than any other object in the universe, which can influence their behavior and emit radiation.


Why do pulsar stars spin?

Pulsar stars spin because they are formed from the collapsed core of a massive star that has exploded in a supernova. During the collapse, the core's rotation becomes faster due to the conservation of angular momentum. This rapid rotation causes the neutron star to spin rapidly, emitting beams of radiation that we detect as pulses from Earth.


Why do neutron star spin so rapidly?

Neutron stars spin rapidly due to the conservation of angular momentum. When a massive star collapses into a neutron star, its rotation speed increases dramatically due to the conservation of angular momentum, just like a figure skater spinning faster when they pull their arms in. Additionally, the rapid rotation can be sustained by the incredibly high density and strong gravitational forces present in neutron stars.


Stars that spin rapidly and give off radio waves are called?

pulsar


What is spinning neutron star called?

It is still called a neutron star. Depending on how we observe it, it may also be called a pulsar.


What are the unusual properties of neutron stars?

Neutron stars are incredibly dense, with masses greater than the Sun packed into a sphere only about 12 miles in diameter. They have intense magnetic fields and can spin rapidly, emitting periodic pulses of radiation, hence their classification as pulsars. Neutron stars are also believed to contain the densest form of matter in the universe, composed primarily of neutrons.


Are all neutron stars pulsars?

No, not all neutron stars are pulsars. Pulsars are a type of neutron star that emits beams of radiation, which can be detected as pulses of light. Some neutron stars do not emit these beams and are not classified as pulsars.


A neutron star that rotates rapidly and emits light?

You are describing a pulsar, which is a highly magnetized rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation along its magnetic poles. These beams of radiation sweep across space as the star rotates, causing the observed pulsating light.


Pulsars cannot be spinning white dwarfs because?

Pulsars are not spinning white dwarfs because they are neutron stars. Neutron stars are much more massive and compact than white dwarfs, resulting from the collapse of the core of a massive star. Pulsars are rapidly spinning neutron stars that emit beams of radiation from their magnetic poles.


Why don't all supernova remnants contain pulsars?

Not all supernova remnants contain pulsars because the formation of a pulsar requires specific conditions, such as the collapse of a massive star's core during a supernova explosion to form a neutron star with a strong magnetic field. If these conditions are not met during the supernova event, a pulsar may not be created.