Black Dwarf Research Paper

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Stars are one of the most widely recognized astronomical objects in the known universe. These celestial bodies are the building blocks of galaxies and their age, composition, and distribution are used to trace their galaxy’s history. Stars are also responsible for the existence of heavy elements such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and iron. These elements are the result of the thermonuclear fusion that takes place in the stars’ cores over millions to trillions of years, making them the most effective and productive nuclear reactors in the the cosmos. In the case of the solar system stars also provide the light and heat required to support life which is a near impossible and extremely rare phenomenon. Stars are extraordinary objects in the entirety …show more content…

This is because Black Dwarfs, unlike black holes, do not cause gravitational lensing that would result in the manipulation of space around them, making them virtually invisible. However, this does not mean that they do not have a gravitational pull, it simply means that their gravity is not strong enough to alter the world around them. However, they are relatively easy to understand “A black dwarf is simply white dwarf that has cooled down to the temperature of the cosmic microwave background [CMB]” (Tate). Once a star has become a White Dwarf it is no longer fusing elements, therefore it has no source of internal energy, and only shines because it is still extremely hot. If a White Dwarf becomes a Black Dwarf at 5°K (-450.67°F), the temperature of the CMB, it would take one quadrillion years, or a one with fifteen zeros after it, (1,000,000,000,000,000) for a newly formed White Dwarf to become a Black Dwarf. White Dwarfs live for such a long time because they only cool via radiation (Tate). Meaning energy is only released by means of particles or waves, unlike an object such as the Earth which releases energy by radiation, convection, and conduction. This extremely slow cooling process is the main reason why Black Dwarfs are so rare and the chances of discovering one in the vastness of the universe are remarkably tiny. For these reasons not a lot is known about Black Dwarfs, but as science advances maybe the world’s knowledge of them will advance

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