Round 3: Tossup 4

Given these particles’ mean lifetime of 880 seconds and the time from freeze-out to the onset of BBNS, one can calculate an abundance denoted Y. The timescale of these particles’ capture differentiates two reactions that occur in AGB stars and during supernovae, called the s- and r-processes. A different particle decays into one of these particles in the first step of the p-p chain. [emphasize] Above the Chandrasekhar (“chun-druh-SHAY-kur”) limit (-5[1])but below the TOV (10[1])limit, these particles’ degeneracy pressure keeps (10[1])massive stars (-5[1])from turning into black holes. (10[1])Pulsars (-5[1])are rapidly rotating (10[1])members of a class of extremely dense stars (10[1])made of these particles. (10[1])For 10 points, name these (10[1])subatomic particles with no charge. (10[1])■END■ (10[4]0[1])

ANSWER: neutrons (Y is the fractional abundance of helium.)
<McGill B, Other Science> | Packet B
= Average correct buzz position

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