What dictates the duration a star spends on the main sequence relative to its mass?

Answer

Inversely proportional

The length of time a star remains in its most stable phase, known as the main sequence, is fundamentally linked to its initial mass through an inverse proportionality relationship. This means that as the mass of a star increases, its lifespan dramatically decreases. This is not a gradual linear change; the scaling is drastic, implying that even a small addition to a star's mass results in a disproportionately large reduction in how long it can sustain hydrogen fusion in its core before evolving further. This inverse relationship governs the entire spectrum of stellar longevity, making massive stars extremely short-lived compared to their low-mass counterparts.

What dictates the duration a star spends on the main sequence relative to its mass?

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