Can a star be destroyed with a grain of sand?

Question

I overheard someone saying he read about it. I thought it intruiging. Seems as though it would have to be an utlra dense star and the sand grain adds enough density to make it form a black whole, but, unfortunately, I've never studied physics. So, pardon me if I sound like an idiot.

I asked the internet; it didn't know.

Answer 1

We ARE the internet!

How's this, for one method. If one could accellerate a grain of sand to nearly speed of light velocity, it would have nearly infinite energy, stored up as momentum. An object of nearly infinite energy, striking a star may have a pretty good chance of destroying it.

But, not really likely as it would probably just pass thorough.

Answer 2

As the other person said, in theory, under ideal conditions, yes. But in all practicality, no.

First of all, space is full of a lot of dust and particles so we can't expect a star to be so isolated that it hold a constant mass until this grain of sand gets to it. Crap is flying into stars all the time. Also, stars blow a lot of things. They are incredibly energetic and the "space atmosphere" close to a star, can be violent. The grain of sand may never really get to the star....it certainly wouldn't be intact if it did.

Third, the uncertainty principal applies. In every reaction, there is a margin of uncertainty. We can estimate how much mass or energy will definatly trigger a reaction, and how much definatly won't, but there is a point near the tipping point where no one can say if the reaction will go or not. You also have to consider that stars are complex structures which are not soild and whether or not the reaction goes might depend on many factors which can't be taken into account.

Last, when neutron stars do become black holes, it's typically due to a steady flow of mass from a companion star so it's constantly being bombarded.

Answer 3

It was probably in reference to a white dwarf entraining material from a close companion star in a binary system. Once the mass reaches the Chandrasekhar limit of about 1.4 solar masses, carbon fusion is initiated and the star is completely destroyed in a type 1A supernova. No remaining neutron core, black hole or anything. Nothing left but an expanding debris field from the detonation.

So in idealistic theory, the last grain of sand equivalent weight of material landing on the star's surface triggers the explosion.

Answer 4

well, a black hole is a point in space that can be the size of a grain of sand. Laws of physics stop working there. Whole stars or planets can be swallowed up by black holes. This is not science fiction, but the result of years of ground breaking work by some of the 20th century greatest astrophysicist.

Answer 5

Only if it's a dead star no longer powered by fusion. Stars don't form black holes until their thermal fuel is exhausted. It's theoretically possible for a neutron star (a dead massive star without mass great enough to collapse past neutron degeneracy pressure) to reach just enough mass through a grain of sand to form a black hole.

Answer 6

If the grain of sand is traveling very close to the speed of light it might have quite a lot of mass and be able to cause the star to be destroyed.

Answer 7

No sand would do this. the collapse of a star is caused by the absence of fuel or hydrogen thus the star starts to collapse and the acceleration of the suns gravity is the only force that can create a mass of infinity.

Answer 8

Under the absolute perfect tipping point conditions, yes. But the likelihood of one finding such an example would be extremely remote.

Answer 9

The proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back"... Its almost like trying to work out at what point one drop of water will cause a dam to burst !

Answer 10

no as stars are minny suns, they might be bigger then planits but they are smaller then the sun and are made of burning gass balls and sany would just disinagrate