How much shorter is the main sequence lifetime for a $10 M_{\odot}$ star compared to the Sun ($1.0 M_{\odot}$)?

Answer

Tens of millions of years

The relationship between a star's initial mass and its main sequence lifetime exhibits an inverse and steep dependency. A star like our Sun, with $1.0 M_{\odot}$, is expected to sustain hydrogen fusion in its core for approximately ten billion years. In sharp contrast, a star possessing ten times the Sun's mass ($10 M_{\odot}$) possesses significantly higher core temperatures and pressures, forcing it to consume its hydrogen fuel at a vastly accelerated pace. This rapid consumption means that the $10 M_{\odot}$ star exhausts its core hydrogen supply in a period measured in the tens of millions of years. This difference illustrates that a small increase in mass results in a disproportionately larger decrease in lifespan, framing the lives of massive stars as cosmic sprints rather than the marathons run by solar-mass stars.

$How much shorter is the main sequence lifetime for a $10 M_{\odot}$ star compared to the Sun ($1.0 M_{\odot}$)?$

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