Question

In massive stars, when the core has fused carbon into every possible matter, the iron core shrinks from about the size of the earth to 10 Km radius sphere in less than a second.

(a) True

(b) False

This question was posed to me in a job interview.

My question is based upon Dying Stars topic in section Quantum Physics of Engineering Physics I

Answer 1

Correct option is (a) True

The explanation: In the given case, the star collapses by its own gravity and the iron core heats up. In less than a second, the iron core, which is about the size of Earth, shrinks to a neutron core with a radius of about 6 miles (10 kilometers).