What is the main factor that determines whether a dying star becomes a neutron star or a black hole?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the main factor that influences whether a dying star will end up as a neutron star or a black hole, which involves understanding stellar evolution and the underlying physical processes.
Answer
The mass of the dying star determines whether it becomes a neutron star or a black hole.
The main factor determining whether a dying star becomes a neutron star or a black hole is its mass.
Answer for screen readers
The main factor determining whether a dying star becomes a neutron star or a black hole is its mass.
More Information
Stars with masses that exceed a certain threshold, post-supernova, are unable to resist gravitational collapse and form black holes. Stars with slightly lesser mass become neutron stars, where the pressure allows protons and electrons to combine into neutrons.
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse the post-supernova outcome with other less massive outcomes, like white dwarfs, which result from significantly less massive stars.
Sources
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