Expert: Jayendra Upadhye - 11/18/2008

Question
Hi, can you tell me which of these belongs in the catagories of: 1. HIGH MASS STARS or 2. LOW MASS STARS,

*late in life fuse carbon into heavier elements
*The sun is an example
*Final corpse is a white dwarf
*end life asa supernova
*have longer lifetimes
*end life as planetary nebula
*have higher fusion rate during main sequence life

which of this belongs to high-mass stars and low-mass stars?

Answer
Hi Justo,
1 - High mass stars:-
*late in life fuse carbon into heavier elements
*end life as a supernova
*have higher fusion rate during main sequence life

2 - Low mass stars:-
*The sun is an example
*Final corpse is a white dwarf
*have longer lifetimes
*end life as planetary nebula

The reasons these fell into the two categories are as under.
There is a thumb rule that says that massive stars:
- burn faster
- Live shorter
- Go Supernova

Wheras the lighter ones
- Burn slower and longer
- Become white dwafs
- Shed their outer layers as planetary nebulas.

regards
Jayen

regards
Jayen