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EXERCISE 24
(a) The gravitational pressure of a star's atmosphere on its core is given approximately by the equation: P = 19 * (GM/R^2) * (M/R^2) where M is the mass of the star, and R is the radius of the star. So, what is the gravitational pressure at the core of the Sun, in units of newtons per square meter? How does this compare to atmospheric pressure here on Earth, which is about 101,000 newtons per square meter? (b) If we treat the Sun's atmosphere as an ideal gas, then we can use the ideal gas law in the form P = nkT to calculate the Sun's core temperature. In this case, n = the number density of gas particles at the Sun's core, which is about 1.0 * 10^32 per cubic meter; and k = a constant of proportionality, 1.38 * 10^(-23) joule/K. Using the result from Question 4(a) above, compute the Sun's core temperature. What is the temperature of the hottest thing you can think of here on Earth? How does that compare with the Sun's core temperature? |