Will Big Stars Turn Into Red Supergiants or Red Giants?

In summary, in the section "The Evolution of Stars" it is said that "No, it does not." However, some versions of the graph do include paths to depict star history.
  • #1
Odette
9
0
Hey.
Medium sized stars will turn into red giants.
What about big sized stars? As far as I know they will turn into red SUPERgiants. But, will they pass through a red giant phase before it happens?
In conclusion, will a big star turn firstly into a red giant and secondly into a red supergiant, or will it turn only into a red supergiant?
 
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  • #2
There are whole books on this. They tend to be more quantitative than just "big" and "medium". Also, they and you probably disagree on how big is "medium" - the most common kind of star, red dwarfs, don't always become red giants, and the threshold is right about at the average star mass.
 
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  • #4
jim mcnamara said:
Look at this diagram, it shows how stars evolve over time, depending on the "starting" mass of the star
http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/H/Hertzsprung-Russell+Diagram
No, it does not.
It shows only the present appearance of star, aand gives no information of its history, or mass.
Some versions of this graph add paths to depict star history - but no such are added to the version in the link above.
 
  • #5
@snorkack
Does the explanation not help? Please post what you think is more explanatory. That would be by far more useful to everyone ...than debating what I linked to. Thanks in advance for for your help.
 
  • #6
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Likes jim mcnamara

1. Will all big stars eventually turn into red supergiants or red giants?

Not all big stars will turn into red supergiants or red giants. The fate of a star depends on its mass. Stars with a mass less than 8 times that of the sun will eventually become red giants, while stars with a mass greater than 8 times the sun's mass will become red supergiants.

2. How do stars become red supergiants or red giants?

As a star ages, it begins to run out of hydrogen fuel in its core. This causes the core to contract and heat up, while the outer layers of the star expand and cool, turning the star into a red giant or red supergiant.

3. How long does it take for a star to become a red supergiant or red giant?

The time it takes for a star to become a red supergiant or red giant depends on its initial mass. For a star with a mass similar to the sun, it will take approximately 10 billion years to become a red giant. For a star with a mass 8 times greater than the sun, it will take around 100 million years to become a red supergiant.

4. What happens to a star after it becomes a red supergiant or red giant?

After a star becomes a red supergiant or red giant, it will continue to fuse heavier elements in its core until it can no longer sustain nuclear reactions. At this point, the star will either explode in a supernova or shed its outer layers, leaving behind a dense core known as a white dwarf.

5. Can red supergiants or red giants turn into other types of stars?

No, once a star becomes a red supergiant or red giant, it will eventually end its life as a white dwarf. The only way for a star to become a different type of star is through a merger with another star or through a catastrophic event like a supernova.

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