Briefly explain why high-mass stars have shorter lifetimes than ...

[clmills979]

Briefly explain why high-mass stars have shorter lifetimes than low-mass stars.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Moonquakes on the Moon were detected by
 
  A) the radar observations over time from Earth.
  B) the seismographs left these by the Apollo astronauts.
  C) laser beams reflected off mirrors left on the Moon by Apollo missions.
  D) seismographs attached to the Russian Lunar rovers.
  E) telescopic observations of lunar landslides.

[Joy Chen]

Answer to Question 1

High-mass stars have 10 to 100 times more mass (fuel) than a typical low-mass star. This greater mass produces a much higher downward gravitational pressure, leading to much higher core temperatures and higher rates of fusion. The luminosity of such stars is therefore 1,000 to 1 million times greater than in low-mass stars. So, although high-mass stars have more fuel to burn, they burn it at a much higher rate and therefore run out of fuel much more quickly.

Answer to Question 2

B

[clmills979]

Thanks

[Joy Chen]

Welcome