Certain neutron stars (extremely dense stars) are believed to be rotating at about 500 rev/s. If such a star has a radius of 17 km, what must be its minimum mass so that material on its surface remains in place during the rapid rotation

7.22 × 10²⁹ kg

Explanation:

For the material to be in place, the gravitational force on the material must equal the centripetal force on the material.

So, F = gravitational force = GMm/R² where M = mass of neutron star, m = mass of object and R = radius of neutron star = 17 km

The centripetal force F' = mRω² where R = radius of neutron star and ω  = angular speed of neutron star

So, since F = F'

GMm/R² = mRω²

GM = R³ω²

M = R³ω²/G

Since ω = 500 rev/s = 500 × 2π rad/s = 1000π rad/s = 3141.6 rad/s = 3.142 × 10³ rad/s and r = 17 km = 17 × 10³ m and G = universal gravitational constant = 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²

Substituting the values of the variables into M, we have

M = R³ω²/G

M = (17 × 10³ m)³(3.142 × 10³ rad/s)²/6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²

M = 4913 × 10⁹ m³ × 9.872 × 10⁶ rad²/s²/6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²

M = 48,501.942 × 10¹⁵ m³rad²/s² ÷ 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²

M = 7217.66 × 10²⁶ kg

M = 7.21766 × 10²⁹ kg

M ≅ 7.22 × 10²⁹ kg