Halliday, Resnick & Walker — Rotation: Problem Problem_18

A pulsar is a rapidly rotating neutron star that emits a radio beam the way a lighthouse emits a light beam. We receive a radio pulse for each rotation of the star. The period \(T\) of rotation is found by measuring the time between pulses. The pulsar in the Crab nebula has a period of rotation of \(T = 0.033 \text{ s}\) that is increasing at the rate of \(1.26 \times 10^{-5} \text{ s/y}\). (a) What is the pulsar’s angular acceleration \(\alpha\)? (b) If \(\alpha\) is constant, how many years from now will the pulsar stop rotating? (c) The pulsar originated in a supernova explosion seen in the year 1054. Assuming constant \(\alpha\), find the initial \(T\).