sometimes a dead white dwarf star is part of a binary star system, where it orbits
with an old giant star. if the giant star is close to it, gas is pulled from the giant onto
the dead star due to the dead star's strong gravity. this can lead to either a type la
supernova explosion or a milder nova explosion. what factor strongly determines
which kind of explosion occurs?the the white dwarf when the
explosion is about to happen.
o age
o orbital speed
o rate of spin
o temperature
o mass
orbital period