A white dwarf has mass and radius

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Relativity & Gravitation · Newtonian gravitation as a field theory · Newtonian gravitation as a field theory

The Geometry of Gravity, Ch The tidal field: what free fall cannot remove

Problem

A white dwarf has mass M⋆=1.0 M⊙M_\star = 1.0\,M_\odot and radius R⋆=7.0×103 kmR_\star = 7.0\times10^3\,\mathrm{km}. Take GM⊙=1.327×1020 m3 s−2GM_\odot = 1.327\times10^{20}\,\mathrm{m^3\,s^{-2}}. Estimate how long a rigid apparatus of length ℓ=0.20 m\ell = 0.20\,\mathrm{m}, capable of resolving a relative displacement of dres=1.0 μmd_{\rm res} = 1.0\,\mu\mathrm{m} between its ends, stays inertial to that precision at the white dwarf's surface, ((a)) oriented vertically, along the radius; ((b)) oriented horizontally, transverse to the radius.

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