What happens when a main sequence star depletes the supply of hydrogen in its core and nuclear fusion slows down?
Question
What happens when a main sequence star depletes the supply of hydrogen in its core and nuclear fusion slows down?
Solution
When a main sequence star depletes its supply of hydrogen in its core, the following sequence of events occurs:
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Hydrogen Burning Phase: The star spends most of its life in the main sequence phase, where it burns hydrogen to produce helium in its core. This process releases energy in the form of light and heat, which is what makes the star shine.
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Hydrogen Depletion: Eventually, the star runs out of hydrogen in its core. When this happens, the core starts to contract under its own gravity. This contraction causes the core to heat up.
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Helium Burning Phase: As the core heats up, the temperature and pressure increase
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