How does a star's mass affect its lifespan during the main sequence?
Answer
Massive stars burn fuel faster and have shorter lifespans
While it might seem intuitive for larger stars to last longer, the opposite is true due to the intensity of their fuel consumption. More massive stars create extreme internal pressure and heat, which causes them to consume their hydrogen fuel at an accelerated rate compared to smaller stars like the Sun. Consequently, the biggest stars may only exist for a few million years, whereas smaller stars can last for billions.
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