Homework 2

Homework 2#

Total: (90 points)

Submitting your work: Turn into D2L as a PDF. In most cases, solutions will be found by hand, then written up in LaTeX or Markdown and exported as a final PDF.

Due Before Class Friday, February 14, 2025#

  1. HKT Problem 4.2 (30 points)

  2. HKT Problem 4.10 (30 points - 10 each part)

  3. Exploring Radiative and Convective Zones in MESA (see. HKT 3.7, 4.2, 5.1). Run a 1Msun model to the start of the WD cooling phase saving profiles throughout the evolution then (30 points - 15 each part):

    • pick two different time snapshots (profile files) to compare the logarithmic temperature/density/pressure gradients. Make plots comparing \(\nabla_{\rm{actual}}\), \(\nabla_{\rm{ad}}\), \(\nabla_{\rm{rad}}\), and to find regions of the star that are radiative versus convective.

    • If the stars were composed on an ideal gas following a γ law equation of state, what values would you expect these to approach (i.e. identify reasonable choice of γ to get an analytic estimate).

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