
What is the difference between high mass and low mass stars?
In the outer layers of a low‐mass star, the dominant mode of energy transport becomes convective motion. The internal structures of high‐mass and low‐mass stars are thus essentially reversed from each other (see Figure 1 ). High‐mass versus low‐mass main sequence structure.
Why do stars move off the main sequence?
Low mass stars live longer than high mass stars because they have less fuel to burn thus burn it much slower. Stars stay on the main sequence while they are. Burning Hydrogen into Helium. As soon as this process stops they start moving off the main sequence. Stars leave the main sequence when.
How is energy produced in a low-mass star?
As a direct consequence, the energy produced in a low‐mass star occurs over a large part of the interior of the star. The temperature gradient is low, and radiation is able to carry away the energy. In the outer, cooler parts of the star, however, photons are absorbed:
Why do high-mass stars undergo convection?
Faster moving atoms mean a higher temperature; the matter thus expands producing the condition for convection. In the outer layers of a low‐mass star, the dominant mode of energy transport becomes convective motion. The internal structures of high‐mass and low‐mass stars are thus essentially reversed from each other (see Figure 1 ).

Do high mass stars live longer?
A star's life expectancy depends on its mass. Generally, the more massive the star, the faster it burns up its fuel supply, and the shorter its life. The most massive stars can burn out and explode in a supernova after only a few million years of fusion.
Do high mass or low mass stars last longer?
The more fuel, the more supply of material for fusion the star has and so the longer the star can live. The fuel is hydrogen atoms and the number of hydrogen atoms is greater in high mass stars than it is in lower mass stars. Thus, the higher the mass of the star, the longer its lifetime can be.
What stars live longer high mass stars or low mass stars?
Low-mass stars are the longest lived of the energy-producing objects in the universe. Though they far outnumber all other stars, they are the faintest ones, and thus are hard to detect. Some low-mass stars will live for trillions of years.
Why do low mass stars live much longer than high mass stars?
Low mass stars use up their hydrogen fuel very slowly and consequently have long lives. Low mass stars simply die by burning up their fuel to leave behind white dwarfs (contracted low mass stars about the size of the Earth) which themselves cool and contract further to black dwarfs.
What stars live the longest?
The stars with the longest lifetimes are red dwarfs; some may be nearly as old as the universe itself.Red Dwarf Stars. Astronomers define a red dwarf as a star having between about 0.08 and 0.5 times the mass of the sun and formed primarily of hydrogen gas. ... Luminosity and Lifetime. ... Nuclear Fusion. ... Life Cycle of Stars.
Which type of star has the shortest life span?
The most massive stars have the shortest lifetimes. Because they have most fuel, they burn it so prodigously that their lifetimes are very short.
Which live longer high mass or low mass stars quizlet?
Which stars last longer, high mass or low mass? Low mass stars last longer because thermonuclear fusion occurs at a faster rate in high mass stars than in low mass stars. Therefore larger stars use all of their fuel faster than low mass stars and do not live as long.
How long do high mass stars live?
– It therefore burns fuel (uses it's mass) 100000 times faster than the Sun. – It has 25 times the mass of the Sun so its lifetime will be 25/100000 = 0.00025 times than the Sun's lifetime = 2.5 million years. A star with a mass 25 times that of the Sun will live for about 2.5 million years.
What is the difference between high mass and low mass stars?
Low mass stars are cooler, and are reddish. High mass stars are hotter, and are white or blue white. Extremely high mass stars may even shine a pale violet, which is more "blue" than blue white. High mass stars are also much brighter than low mass stars, because they produce much more energy.
Why do lower mass stars live longer?
A smaller star has less fuel, but its rate of fusion is not as fast. Therefore, smaller stars live longer than larger stars because their rate of fuel consumption is not as rapid.
How does the mass of a star affect its life cycle?
The larger its mass, the shorter its life cycle. A star's mass is determined by the amount of matter that is available in its nebula, the giant cloud of gas and dust from which it was born. Over time, the hydrogen gas in the nebula is pulled together by gravity and it begins to spin.
Which of these stars has the shortest life expectancy quizlet?
-O stars have the shortest lifetimes (less than 10 million years).
How long does a high mass star last?
– It therefore burns fuel (uses it's mass) 100000 times faster than the Sun. – It has 25 times the mass of the Sun so its lifetime will be 25/100000 = 0.00025 times than the Sun's lifetime = 2.5 million years. A star with a mass 25 times that of the Sun will live for about 2.5 million years.
What is the difference between high mass and low mass stars?
Low mass stars are cooler, and are reddish. High mass stars are hotter, and are white or blue white. Extremely high mass stars may even shine a pale violet, which is more "blue" than blue white. High mass stars are also much brighter than low mass stars, because they produce much more energy.
How does the life of a high mass star differ from a low mass star?
Both, a low mass Star and a High mass Star will Start off with fusing hydrogen into Helium, though a high mass Star will burn it faster because of increased pressure and temperature in the core. A second difference is the ability to create heavier elements.
When a low mass star has used its last remaining fuel?
A white dwarf is formed when a low-mass star has exhausted all its central nuclear fuel and lost its outer layers as a planetary nebula. Dim, shining only via stored heat.
Why do low mass stars live longer than high mass stars?
Low mass stars live longer than high mass stars because they have less fuel to burn thus burn it much slower
What is the relation between the mass and luminosity of main sequence stars?
A relation between the mass and luminosity of main-sequence stars. Higher mass stars have higher luminosity
What happens when a white dwarf accretes enough mass to explode?
When a white-dwarf in a binary system accretes enough mass to collapse and explode (white-dwarf will accrete onto a companion star, if it takes enough material, it'll gain enough to start burning again)
How big are stars to burn carbon?
Stars are large enough to burn carbon (below 8, it's helium into carbon)
What happens when a star's fuel runs out?
When a star's fuel runs out of course, it continues burning stuff on its shell
What is a white dwarf?
White dwarves (low mass like the sun)
