What is the fundamental quantity of a star that indicates its ultimate fate?temperaturecolor sizemass
Question
What is the fundamental quantity of a star that indicates its ultimate fate?
- temperature
- color
- size
- mass
Solution
To determine the ultimate fate of a star, the fundamental quantity that is most indicative is mass.
The mass of a star plays a critical role in its life cycle and eventual destiny. Stars of different masses will undergo various processes during their lifetimes, which include stages like main sequence, red giant, and supernova, among others. For example:
- Low-Mass Stars (like our Sun): They will eventually shed their outer layers and become white dwarfs.
- High-Mass Stars: These will undergo a more violent death, often exploding as supernovae, and can leave behind neutron stars or black holes.
While temperature and color provide important information about a star's current state, it is the mass that fundamentally determines its evolutionary path and final state.
In summary, mass is the key fundamental quantity that indicates the ultimate fate of a star.
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