For a white dwarf to explode entirely as a Type I supernova,its mass must be:
A) at least 0.08 solar masses.
B) 1.4 solar masses, the Chandrasekhar Limit.
C) 3 solar masses, the Schwartzschild Limit.
D) 20 solar masses, the Hubble Limit.
E) 100 solar masses, the most massive known stars.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A white dwarf must have a mass of at least 1.4 solar masses, which is known as the Chandrasekhar Limit, to explode entirely as a Type I supernova. At this mass, the electron degeneracy pressure can no longer support the gravitational force, and the core collapses into a neutron star or black hole.

For a White Dwarf to Explode Entirely as a Type