Which of these characteristics of a star make it most likely to become a black hole? Select the two correct answers.

Question

Its mass is equal to that of the sun.
It is dying.
It has an abundant supply of hydrogen.
Its mass is greater that 20 times the mass of the sun.

Answer 1

The two characteristics of a star that make it most likely to become a black hole are:

1. It is dying.
2. Its mass is greater than 20 times the mass of the sun.

A star needs to be significantly more massive than the sun, typically at least 20 times its mass, and it usually ends its life in a supernova explosion, leading to the formation of a black hole.