Free Chandrasekhar Limit Calculator
Compute the Chandrasekhar mass limit for a white dwarf with a given mean molecular weight per electron: M_Ch = 5.83 / mu_e^2 solar masses.
Chandrasekhar Limit
1.4575 M_sun
Limit (kg)2,898,967,499,999,999,700,000,000,000,000.000 kg
Chandrasekhar Limit vs Mean Molecular Weight per Electron
The Chandrasekhar Limit
The maximum mass a white dwarf can have before electron degeneracy pressure cannot support it against gravity.
Formula
M_Ch ≈ 5.83 / mu_e² solar masses
For a typical carbon-oxygen white dwarf, mu_e = 2, giving M_Ch ≈ 1.46 M_sun. Above this, the star collapses to a neutron star or explodes as a Type Ia supernova.
Example Calculation
Carbon-oxygen white dwarf (mu_e = 2).
- 01M_Ch = 5.83 / mu_e²
- 02M_Ch = 5.83 / 4 = 1.4575 M_sun
- 03In kg: 1.4575 × 1.989e30 = 2.899e30 kg