What specific process allows a supernova event to eject a star from a binary system?
Answer
The sudden loss of mass during the explosion
In a binary star system, the stars are held together by mutual gravity. When one of these stars undergoes a supernova explosion, it loses a massive amount of its substance. This drastic reduction in mass disrupts the delicate gravitational equilibrium that previously kept the pair bound together. If the orbital velocity is sufficiently high, the companion star is no longer tethered to the remnant of the exploded star and is released into space, often traveling at high speeds as a result of its previous orbital motion.
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