A star 15 times the mass of the Sun is predicted to stay on the main sequence for approximately how long?
Answer
10 million years
The lifespan disparity between stars of moderate mass and those considered massive is extreme. When examining stars that possess significantly more mass than the Sun, such as one that is fifteen times the Sun's mass ($15 M_{ ext{odot}}$), their fuel consumption rate is so rapid that their stable main-sequence phase is drastically shortened. Instead of billions of years, these objects live fast and die young, with predictions indicating they will remain on the main sequence for a duration estimated to be only around 10 million years. This highlights the severe evolutionary penalty imposed by high initial mass, as the enhanced gravity requires a far greater, sustained energy output to remain in hydrostatic balance.
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