What is the main factor that influences how long a star burns?

Answer 1

A star's mass is the main factor in how long the star 'burns.' The larger the mass, the less time the star will live.

Answer 2

They are correct. The more massive the star the shorter its life. This is true because....

More massive the star the higher graviational force there is trying to bring everything together. When this happens the particles heat up and collide into each other faster. This decreases the main sequences life. All the hydrogen in the core is consumed faster. Then you are left with a helium core a heavier element. Gravtiy pulls in even harder heating up the core. Fusion begins but the size of the star does not chance, more engergy is added to the system, but the size of the star does not grow larger. Eventually you will reach a point of helium core flash where the star gets much larger then it originally was very quickly. The helium fusion begins....and so on. This eventually results in planetary nebulae and a white dwarf, typically. Or depending on the mass of the star a supernova or blackhole!

Answer 3

Well, first of all, cease using the word "burns."

There is no burning as we know of it here on Earth where burning means combination with oxygen.

On the Sun, as with other stars, the light we see is the result of nuclear fusion of Hydrogen gas into Helium gas as a result of massive pressure and extrremely high temperatures which are increased by the nuclear fusion activity itself.

When the majority of the hydrogen gas is used up, a shift in the activity of the fusion occurs and the star begins fusing helium gas. Color of visable radiation changes and the temperatures change markedly. The sudden cooling of the gases causes a gigantic increase in the size of the gas ball that is the star itself. Most often during this increase in size, the star will consume all nearby planets and add their component materials to the core of the star itself.

Answer 4

The Mass of the star.

All of the processes that regulate life are related to burn-rate of the original hydrogen. That rate is controlled by mass. Strangely, a more massive star, with more fuel to burn, burns it at such a faster rate, the change in fuel level won't affect the burn rate as much as the increased gravity will force more fuel to burn faster.

So, mass and star-lifetime are inversely proportional.

A red dwarf (.7 solar mass) will last 50 billion years. Our sun (one solar mass) will last about 16 billion years. Eta Carinae (100 solar masses) will exhaust its fuel in about 50 million years. Eta Carinae is now in its carbon fusing stage. It has actually blown off 16 solar masses of carbon rich soot. Because we view the star thru this dark sooty smoke, it brightness has dropped. In six years in the 1800's this star went from the second brightest star in our sky to now it is not even in the top 100. Eta Carinae will likely blow-up in the next 1,000 years because after the carbon fuses, there is no more power available to keep gravity from crushing the matter into a black hole. The star is SO massive, when it is crushed to neutrons, all the unburned material on the surface of the neutron star will suddenly fuse and create a supernova explosion. Google Eta Carinae to see Hubble's view of the smoky hourglass shaped cocoon this star is wrapped in.

Answer 5

It's mass size compared to other stars,a star ten times larger than our sun will burn itself faster by running out of fuel quicker

Answer 6

Sufficient fuel from which it can derive energy through fusion.

Answer 7

The amount of fuel it has, just to keep it simple.

Answer 8

The amount of fuel it has