Question
A group of scientists found a new star in the galaxy. They determined that it was over 5x the size of our sun and is in its main sequence. What would be the next phase of this star’s life?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
A star that is over 5 times the size of our Sun is classified as a massive star. While in the main sequence phase, it is primarily fusing hydrogen into helium in its core. Once it exhausts the hydrogen fuel in its core, which occurs relatively quickly due to its larger mass and higher temperature, the star will transition into the next phase of its life cycle.
For a star of this size, the next phase after the main sequence will be the red supergiant phase. During this stage, the core will collapse under gravity, and the temperature will rise enough to start fusing helium into heavier elements like carbon and oxygen. As this happens, the outer layers of the star will expand significantly, leading the star to become much larger and cooler on the surface, resulting in a reddish appearance.
Ultimately, after the red supergiant phase, if the star has enough mass, it could end its life in a supernova explosion, leaving behind a neutron star or possibly a black hole, depending on the remaining mass after the explosion.
For a star of this size, the next phase after the main sequence will be the red supergiant phase. During this stage, the core will collapse under gravity, and the temperature will rise enough to start fusing helium into heavier elements like carbon and oxygen. As this happens, the outer layers of the star will expand significantly, leading the star to become much larger and cooler on the surface, resulting in a reddish appearance.
Ultimately, after the red supergiant phase, if the star has enough mass, it could end its life in a supernova explosion, leaving behind a neutron star or possibly a black hole, depending on the remaining mass after the explosion.