These Stars Are Being Eaten Alive from the Inside

Stars, though seemingly eternal, have life cycles determined by their mass. Less massive stars become white dwarfs, while massive ones end in supernovae. Intermediate stars, between 8 and 10 solar masses, have uncertain fates, sometimes exploding due to electron capture in their cores. This process involves neon and magnesium capturing electrons, leading to core collapse and supernova. Understanding these processes helps us comprehend our galaxy and universe.

What determines the final fate of a star?

• Its age

• Its distance from Earth

• Its size

• Its color

What happens to main sequence stars like our sun when they run out of hydrogen?

• They expand into red giants

• They explode as supernovae

• They become black holes

• They collapse into white dwarfs

Why can't main sequence stars fuse elements heavier than hydrogen?

• They are too old

• They are too far from other stars

• They lack sufficient mass

• They lack sufficient pressure and heat

What element's fusion marks a turning point for massive stars?

• Iron

• Carbon

• Helium

• Oxygen

What happens to the core of a massive star when it starts fusing iron?

• It cools down

• It absorbs energy and collapses

• It becomes a white dwarf

• It expands rapidly

What process occurs in the cores of intermediate stars leading to a supernova?

• Neutron decay

• Nuclear fission

• Electron capture

• Photon emission

What historical event might have been caused by the electron capture process in a star?

• The formation of the Milky Way

• The Big Bang

• The supernova that created the Crab Nebula

• The collision of two galaxies