What determines the general definition of a massive star concerning its initial heft?
Answer
Beginning life with many times the Sun's mass
The classification of a star as 'massive' is fundamentally based on its initial mass relative to the Sun. A massive star begins its life cycle possessing significantly greater mass than our own Sun. This extreme initial heft is the root cause of all subsequent characteristics: it drives higher core temperatures and pressures, accelerates the rate of nuclear fusion, shortens the star's overall lifespan dramatically, and enables it to undergo the multi-stage fusion sequence culminating in an iron core.
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