What causes the radio pulses of a pulsar?
A) The vibration of the neutron star.
B) As the neutron star spins, beams of radio radiation sweep through space. If one of the beams crosses the Earth, we observe a pulse.
C) The neutron star undergoes periodic explosions of nuclear fusion that generate radio pulses.
D) The neutron star's orbiting companion periodically eclipses the radio waves that the neutron star emits.
E) A black hole near the neutron star absorbs energy and re-emits it as radio waves.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pulsars are fast-rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation from their magnetic poles. As the neutron star rotates, the beams sweep through space, and if one of the beams crosses the Earth, we observe a pulse.

What Causes the Radio Pulses of a Pulsar