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discord73
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If Hydrogen fusion starts around 100JM (Jupiter Masses) then how do the larger stars get so massive? I was watching The Universe and it said some stars are over 200 solar masses and higher. How can a star get so massive?
discord73 said:If Hydrogen fusion starts around 100JM (Jupiter Masses)
discord73 said:then how do the larger stars get so massive?
discord73 said:I was watching The Universe and it said some stars are over 200 solar masses and higher. How can a star get so massive?
Stars get their mass from the gas and dust clouds that exist in the universe. These clouds are mostly made up of hydrogen and helium, and over time, the force of gravity causes these particles to come together and form a star.
Star formation begins with the collapse of a gas and dust cloud due to gravity. As the cloud collapses, it begins to spin and flatten into a disc shape. This spinning motion causes the material in the disc to clump together, eventually forming a dense core. This core continues to grow as it collects more material, eventually becoming hot enough and dense enough to begin nuclear fusion and become a star.
The mass of a star is determined by the amount of material that was present in the gas and dust cloud from which it formed. The more material in the cloud, the greater the mass of the resulting star. Additionally, factors such as the rate of star formation and the surrounding environment can also influence the mass of a star.
Yes, stars can lose or gain mass over time. As stars age, they go through various stages of nuclear fusion, which can cause them to lose or gain mass depending on the reactions taking place. Stars can also lose mass through stellar winds, and in some cases, stars can gain mass by pulling material from a companion star in a binary system.
The mass of a star has a significant impact on its lifespan. The more massive a star is, the hotter and brighter it burns, using up its fuel at a faster rate. This means that more massive stars have shorter lifespans compared to lower mass stars. For example, a star with 10 times the mass of our Sun will only live for about 10 million years, while our Sun will have a lifespan of about 10 billion years.