Binary Stars

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TrulyC

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<p>I read an article on LiveScience a while back and I am kicking myself for not remembering more about it. Hopefully some of the experts on this forum can help me out.</p><p>I think it was reffering to Binary Stars and it gave some incredibly low orbit time. Like they orbit around each other every minute or something like that.</p><p>&nbsp;It was either that or a star that rotates extremely quick.</p><p>&nbsp;I know I am providing terrible descriptions, but hopefully someone can make sense of my statements and lead me in the right direction.</p><p>&nbsp;Thanks.</p>
 
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derekmcd

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I read an article on LiveScience a while back and I am kicking myself for not remembering more about it. Hopefully some of the experts on this forum can help me out.I think it was reffering to Binary Stars and it gave some incredibly low orbit time. Like they orbit around each other every minute or something like that.&nbsp;It was either that or a star that rotates extremely quick.&nbsp;I know I am providing terrible descriptions, but hopefully someone can make sense of my statements and lead me in the right direction.&nbsp;Thanks. <br /> Posted by TrulyC</DIV></p><p>It really depends on the type of star you are talking about.&nbsp; In the case of Neutron stars, they can rotate at amazing speeds.&nbsp; Upwards of 10% the speed of light if you were to measure their 'surface' speeds about their axis.&nbsp; These are called Pulsars.</p><p>Binary Stars orbiting their common center of mass can produce some incredible speeds, too.&nbsp; At first, I though an orbit of once per minute might be a bit extreme, but I found this article:</p><p>http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/5243</p><p>Which has their orbit at once every 5 minutes.&nbsp; Pretty impressive!!&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>
 
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TrulyC

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<p>Wow that is absolutely incredible.</p><p>&nbsp;I know this isnt a very reliable source but: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millisecond_pulsar</p><p>Several hundred rotations a second is mind boggling, because (from my understanding) neutron stars are still larger than our Sun. It is incredible that both neutron stars and binary systems dont rip apart from that incredible speed.</p><p>Can anyone give me more information on gravitation waves and whether anything ever came of that?</p>
 
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derekmcd

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Wow that is absolutely incredible.&nbsp;I know this isnt a very reliable source but: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millisecond_pulsarSeveral hundred rotations a second is mind boggling, because (from my understanding) neutron stars are still larger than our Sun. It is incredible that both neutron stars and binary systems dont rip apart from that incredible speed.Can anyone give me more information on gravitation waves and whether anything ever came of that? <br /> Posted by TrulyC</DIV></p><p>Neutron stars are certainly more massive than our sun, but they are definitely not larger dimensionally speaking.&nbsp; Neutron stars are only 10-20 km in diameter.&nbsp; The intense gravitational forces keep them from flying apart.</p><p>I don't believe gravitational waves have actually been detected yet, but the LIGO is working on it:</p><p>http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>
 
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mithridates

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Wow that is absolutely incredible.&nbsp;I know this isnt a very reliable source but: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millisecond_pulsarSeveral hundred rotations a second is mind boggling, because (from my understanding) neutron stars are still larger than our Sun.</DIV></p><p>The trick to Wikipedia is to check the sources at the bottom. Wikipedia can be just as realiable as any other source as long as you check to see where the information comes from. This article has four sources which is good for an article that small.</p><p>Articles on political subjects are an entirely different matter, however. The article on Korea under Japanese occupation (1905-1945) has been edited by both sides so much that it's complete garbage in spite of the references below. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>----- </p><p>http://mithridates.blogspot.com</p> </div>
 
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derekmcd

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>The trick to Wikipedia is to check the sources at the bottom. Wikipedia can be just as realiable as any other source as long as you check to see where the information comes from. This article has four sources which is good for an article that small.Articles on political subjects are an entirely different matter, however. The article on Korea under Japanese occupation (1905-1945) has been edited by both sides so much that it's complete garbage in spite of the references below. <br /> Posted by mithridates</DIV></p><p>It's also good to read the 'discussions' to gauge whether a specific topic or information is disputed.&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>
 
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DrRocket

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Wow that is absolutely incredible.&nbsp;I know this isnt a very reliable source but: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millisecond_pulsarSeveral hundred rotations a second is mind boggling, because (from my understanding) neutron stars are still larger than our Sun. It is incredible that both neutron stars and binary systems dont rip apart from that incredible speed.Can anyone give me more information on gravitation waves and whether anything ever came of that? <br />Posted by TrulyC</DIV></p><p>So far as I know gravity waves have not yet been found experimentally, but there are now more sensitive instruments planned to look for them.&nbsp; If you want to read about them you might try</p><p><em>Black Holes, Geons and Quantum Foam</em>&nbsp; by John Archibald Wheeler</p><p><em>Black Holes and Time Warps; Einstein's Outrageous Legacy</em>&nbsp; by Kip Thorne</p><p>or if you are really serious&nbsp; <em>Gravitation </em>by Charles Misner, Kip Thorne, and John Archibald Wheeler</p><p>You might also find this link helpful http://sam.phys.lsu.edu/</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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