Is it probable that the sun will become a supernova? Why or why not?
The Sun does not have enough mass to become a supernova because its mass is less than the Chandrasekhar mass (approximately 1.4 Suns).
When the Sun comes to the end of its life (In about 5 billion years) it will slowly emerge into a red giant. The dying Sun will then throw off its outer layers, forming a nebula. The only object remaining will be the extremely hot core, which will slowly cool and then fade as a white dwarf over many billions of years, possiby until the end of our universe in what Michio Kaku at least calls the "Big Freeze"
Interestingly, the fact that our solar system contains heavy elements indicates that supernovae have occurred here before. Our sun is probably the third star to exist in this cosmic neighbourhood, and our solar system formed from the particles left over from prior stars destroying themselves in spectacular manner
In an experiment on motion, a cart weighing 240 N was pulled up an inclined plane. Which of the following would be the expected reading on the spring scale as the cart is pulled up an inclined plane set upon two books?
The sun is not expected to become a supernova. Let me explain why.
A supernova is a powerful explosion that occurs at the end of a massive star's life. These explosions release an enormous amount of energy, outshining even the brightest stars in a galaxy. However, the sun is not a massive star; it is classified as a main-sequence star, specifically a yellow dwarf.
To understand why the sun will not become a supernova, we need to look at the life cycle of different stars. Massive stars, typically at least eight times more massive than the sun, undergo a series of fusion reactions in their cores that sustain them. Eventually, these reactions convert hydrogen into helium, helium into heavier elements, and so on, until the core is primarily composed of iron.
At this point, the core cannot sustain fusion anymore, leading to a catastrophic collapse and an explosive supernova. However, the sun is not massive enough to create a core composed of iron. Its core will instead collapse under gravity, but not with enough force to cause a supernova. Instead, it will shed its outer layers and become a white dwarf, slowly cooling over time.
So, to answer your question, it is highly improbable that the sun will become a supernova because it lacks the mass required for such a cataclysmic event.