Question

What's the difference between Nebula, Pulsar and Neutron Star?

Answer 1

@iambatman @Astrophysics

Answer 2

Niceeee, haha do you just want definitions or like the processes, such as a nebula is a gas cloud in space where stars are born, there's some cool things about that in itself, which is the nebular theory (which is usually related to our solar system being created but we can relate it to others as well) where our solar system was born from a cloud of gas (solar nebula) which collapsed under its own gravity.

Answer 3

Pulsar is a bit tricky I would say, as it is related to a neutron star in a sense it's a neutron star which rotates at extremely fast speeds, in astronomy we often use these as our time clocks, as some can rotate at 1000 rps, and the reason it's really called pulsar is because it pulsates radiation as it rotates haha. As the saying goes...in physics we often give simple names to complicated processes.
Neutron stars are the aftermath of a supernova with very high densities.

Answer 4

Yes, they emit jets of radiations and all at the expense of their rotational K.E. Right?

Answer 5

That's why they slow down each day. Their time period is increasing continuously. Right?

Answer 6

Yes, you can think of it as pulsars rotate more slowly over time since they are constantly radiating energy away

Answer 7

It's just like what you would have learnt about in circular motion

Answer 8

So, the thing I want to understand is does every nebula has a pulsar? And are pulsar and neutron starts synonyms ?

Answer 9

Well, not every nebula has a pulsar, but some are powered by pulsars, weird right? I would not recommend using them as synonyms because not all neutron stars become pulsars, since I know you have a decent chemistry background I can tell you a neutron star is just a ball of neutrons around the size of 10 km in radius...yeah insane, with a mass larger than the suns, I usually use the analogy if you have a paper clip made out of neutron star matter, it would weight as much as mount everest. So really pulsars are neutron stars that pulsate radio sources...I could get more into it haha it's very fascinating stuff.

Answer 10

Ok, so crab nebula is a nebula which is powered by Crab pulsar, right?

Answer 11

From what I remember, that sounds right!

Answer 12

Okay, Thanks c:
I appreciate it ..

Answer 13

Haha np, very fun subject to talk about, here is a video that introduces a lot of these fascinating objects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVIigCMhCZc

Answer 14

That's an hour long >_<

Answer 15

But it's awesome! So if you have free time watch it :)

Answer 16

Will do sure c:

Answer 17

Awesome, take care :D and keep looking up!