Red Dwarfs and Their Characteristics

Red dwarfs, the most common type of star, are crucial for the future of humanity and potential alien life. They are small, dim, and have long lifespans, making them stable over trillions of years. Many red dwarfs host planets in the habitable zone, but these planets face challenges like tidal locking and solar flares. Despite these issues, red dwarfs could be future homes for humanity. Eventually, red dwarfs will become blue, white, and finally black dwarfs as they exhaust their fuel.

What percentage of stars in the universe are red dwarfs?

• 50%

• 30%

• 70%

• 90%

How long is the average lifespan of a red dwarf?

• 5 to 15 trillion years

• 1 to 10 billion years

• 1 to 10 trillion years

• 5 to 15 billion years

What is a major challenge for planets in the habitable zone of red dwarfs?

• They are too cold

• They have no atmosphere

• They are tidally locked

• They are too far from the star

What is a potential consequence of a red dwarf's solar flares?

• Increase in planet's gravity

• Stripping of a planet's atmosphere

• Decrease in planet's size

• Increase in planet's temperature

What percentage of red dwarfs in the Milky Way may host habitable planets?

• 15%

• 5%

• 20%

• 10%

What is a 'Super Earth' in the context of red dwarfs?

• A massive rocky planet

• A small icy planet

• A large gas giant

• A dwarf planet

What is the estimated number of potentially habitable planets around red dwarfs in the Milky Way?

• 10 billion

• 20 billion

• 60 billion

• 100 billion

What happens to a red dwarf when it runs out of hydrogen?

• It becomes a supernova

• It becomes a neutron star

• It becomes a blue dwarf

• It becomes a black hole

What is the final form of a red dwarf after it has cooled completely?

• Black dwarf

• White dwarf

• Red giant

• Blue dwarf

What is the significance of red dwarfs' long lifespan for humanity?

• They are the brightest stars

• They are easy to reach

• They offer a potential long-term home

• They provide unlimited energy