When neutron stars meet, it
creates a flash, brighter than lightning. Neutron stars are stars that have
burned out and only the core remains. The neutron star is half a million times
the mass of Earth. Neutron stars are only 12 miles across, the size of London.
Some of the material from this star weighs as much as Mt. Everest.
A neutron star is also as hot
as a million degrees, and the stars are highly radioactive. When a star burns
out and a neutron star is left behind, two or more neutrons will orbit each
other. When the neutron stars orbit, they give off gravitational waves, which
are caused by strong movements in the neutron stars. As the stars give away
energy, they move closer together and they orbit each other more quickly.
Through time, the stars orbit
each more than a hundred times a second, in a couple of seconds, the stars
reach the speed of light, and they combine. If the stars are dense enough, they
will turn into a black hole. Some stars might form into one heavy neutron star,
which is stable. If a neutron star is unstable, it will form a black hole
caving in.
FUN
QUESTIONS:
- How do neutron stars’ form?
- What do neutron stars form into?
- What do neutron stars give off?
- What do neutron stars create when they meet?
- What is a neutron star’s mass?
VOCABULARY:
Radioactive - (adjective) Something that is radioactive contains a substance that produces energy in the form of powerful and harmful rays.
(collinsdictionary.com)
Gravitational waves - (noun) A gravitational wave is an invisible
(yet incredibly fast) ripple in space.
(dictionary.com)
Black Hole - (noun) A black hole is a place in space where
gravity pulls so much that even light cannot get out. (dictionary.com)
Orbit - (noun) the curved path, usually elliptical, described by a
planet, satellite, spaceship, etc., around a celestial body, as the sun.
(dictionary.com)
Dense - (adjective) having the component parts closely compacted
together. (dictionary.com)
Unstable - (adjective) not firm or firmly fixed; unsteady.
(dictionary.com)
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:
Harini
Senthilkumar, who is 11 years old, wrote many articles and stories on her
personal blog. She has been to gymnastics, soccer, basketball, and has
participated in numerous cross country running. She continues writing more
interesting articles.
Bibliography:
https://newsela.com
