Life Cycle of Stars

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What determines the lifetime of a main-sequence star?

The rate at which it burns its hydrogen supply (correct)

The temperature of its surface

Its distance from the Earth

The size of its planetary system

What is the relationship between the mass and luminosity of a main-sequence star?

Luminosity is proportional to the square root of mass

Luminosity is proportional to the cube and a half of mass (correct)

Luminosity increases linearly with mass

Luminosity increases exponentially with mass

How does the lifetime of a 10 M⊙ star compare to that of the Sun?

It is about 10 times longer

It is about 30 million years, whereas the Sun's is about 10 billion years (correct)

It is about 100 times shorter

It is about the same

What can be inferred about a star from its luminosity?

Its rate of hydrogen burning Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate lifetime of a star with a mass of 3 Rsun?

1 billion years Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason why molecular clouds can form hydrogen molecules?

Because of low temperature Signup and view all the answers

Why does the cloud contract and form a dense, hot protostar?

Because of the lack of thermal pressure Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that determines the mass limit of main sequence stars?

Radiation pressure Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of brown dwarfs that distinguishes them from main sequence stars?

Their inability to sustain core hydrogen fusion Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of a large star's mass on its nuclear fusion rate?

It increases the nuclear fusion rate Signup and view all the answers

Life Cycle of Stars

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Questions and Answers

What determines the lifetime of a main-sequence star?

What is the relationship between the mass and luminosity of a main-sequence star?

How does the lifetime of a 10 M⊙ star compare to that of the Sun?

What can be inferred about a star from its luminosity?

What is the approximate lifetime of a star with a mass of 3 Rsun?

What is the primary reason why molecular clouds can form hydrogen molecules?

Why does the cloud contract and form a dense, hot protostar?

What is the primary factor that determines the mass limit of main sequence stars?

What is the main characteristic of brown dwarfs that distinguishes them from main sequence stars?

What is the primary effect of a large star's mass on its nuclear fusion rate?

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