The options are...
The mass of the star. Larger stars have shorter lifespans.
The mass of the star. Larger stars have longer lifespans.
How close the star is to other stars.
How close the star is to a black hole.
Help me out?!
2007-03-23 06:01:55 · 8 answers · asked by Jonathan H 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Yeah it's the mass. The hydrogen fuses to helium:
4H --> He + subatomic particles + heat
the more H atoms there are the faster it burns, so larger ones will burn out faster.
2007-03-23 06:27:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The mass of the star. Larger stars have shorter lifespans.
The more massive a star is, the more fuel it needs and the quicker it burns its fuel.
2007-03-26 09:37:07 · answer #2 · answered by Tenebra98 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone uses the word "burn"; there is nothing wrong with saying that a nuclear reaction "burns" it's fuel.
The larger the mass the shorter the life; large stars live fast and die young.
2007-03-23 22:15:28 · answer #3 · answered by stargazergurl22 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first one. The more mass the star has the faster it burns up it's fuel. It sounds backwards but it's true. Smaller stars burn more slowly. Burn isn't really the best word though. Stars are basicaly huge nuclear reactors.
2007-03-23 06:08:49 · answer #4 · answered by Louis G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, i am not sure I can help you because of the word "burn."
Stars are not burning as we understand the term, with oxygen.
Stars are huge, huge masses of hydrogen and helium gases in the shape of a ball. The weight of all that gas presses down onto the center core of the mass with an unbelieveable weight. All that pressure creates heat. And, the combined pressure and heat set off nuclear fusion of Hydrogen into helium gas, molten gas, and molten gases so hot that they become metallic. This fusion process gives off heat light and radiation. that is what you see and feel as heat from our sun.
2007-03-23 12:54:47 · answer #5 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The first answer is the correct one. Though technically they don't "burn", since burning implies reacting with oxygen, and that's not what happens on a star. Basically, stars are huge fusion reactions.
2007-03-23 06:09:01 · answer #6 · answered by Bramblyspam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gravitational compression. In fact, Jupiter has almost enough mass to ignite. It DOES produce some heat and radiation. It has also been theorized that a nuclear powered satellite just might be sufficient to ignite it.
2007-03-23 06:15:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Hi. You have the answer but this image may help you understand the fusion process better. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/astro/astfus.html#c2
2007-03-23 06:45:31 · answer #8 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋