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Why does a massive star have a much shorter life span compared to the sun?
Because a massive star has more pressure on the core, this creates greater temperatures, which increase the amount of nuclear fusion that occurs. This uses more hydrogen and thus the star runs out of fuel much quicker, that a smaller star.
What occurs that causes a main sequence star to lose its equilibrium and move on to the next stage in its evolution?
This happens when a main sequence star uses up all of its fuel and swells. Next stage: Red Giant.
What will be the sun be white dwarf or a main-sequence star?
Right now the sun is a main sequence star. When it uses up the hydrogen in its core it will become a red giant then shed its outer layers to become a white dwarf.
Is the lifetime of a massive star shorter or longer than a star like the sunwhy?
The lifetime of a massive star is shorter than that of a star like the sun. Massive stars have more fuel to burn but burn it at a faster rate due to their higher core temperatures and luminosities. This leads to a shorter lifespan for massive stars compared to sun-like stars.
How the life cycle of a low mass star differ from the life cycle of high mass star?
The major difference is that a low-mass star lives much longer. The reason for this is that a high-mass star gets hotter, is much brighter, and uses up its fuel much faster. The difference can be quite dramatic, with some stars being millions of times brighter than others. Also, assuming the star doesn't acquire additional mass, a low-mass star will end up as a white dwarf, while more massive stars will end up as a neutron star, or in the case of the most massive stars, a black hole.
