How does a star's mass affect its evolution?

A star's mass determines its lifespan, temperature, luminosity, and eventual fate.

The mass of a star determines its evolution from birth to death. A star's mass affects the temperature and pressure within its core, which in turn determines the rate of nuclear fusion reactions that power the star. More massive stars have higher core temperatures and pressures, which allows them to fuse heavier elements and burn through their fuel faster. This results in a shorter lifespan compared to less massive stars.

A star's mass also determines its luminosity, or the amount of energy it radiates per unit time. More massive stars are brighter and more luminous than less massive stars, as they have more fuel to burn and a larger surface area to radiate energy from.

As a star evolves, its mass determines its eventual fate. Less massive stars, like our Sun, will eventually run out of fuel and become a white dwarf. More massive stars, on the other hand, will undergo a supernova explosion and either become a neutron star or a black hole.

In summary, a star's mass plays a crucial role in determining its evolution, from its temperature and luminosity to its eventual fate. Understanding the relationship between mass and evolution is essential for studying the life cycle of stars and the universe as a whole.