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

Question

Responses

It has an abundant supply of hydrogen.
It has an abundant supply of hydrogen. - no response given

It is dying.
It is dying. - no response given

Its mass is greater than 20 times the mass of the sun.
Its mass is greater than 20 times the mass of the sun. - no response given

Its mass is equal to that of the sun.

Answer 1

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

1. It is dying. - A star's life cycle will influence its end-state, and stars that go through the late stages of their evolution can undergo supernova explosions, potentially leading to black hole formation.

2. Its mass is greater than 20 times the mass of the sun. - Generally, a star needs to be significantly more massive than the Sun (typically more than about 20 solar masses) to end its life as a black hole after a supernova explosion.

The other options regarding an abundant supply of hydrogen and having a mass equal to that of the sun do not contribute to the likelihood of forming a black hole.