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 s that is increasing at the rate of 1.26×10−5s/y.
a) What is the pulsar’s angular acceleration α?
b) If α 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 α, find the initial T.