What fundamental attribute governs a star's entire existence, from birth in a molecular cloud to stellar remnant?

Answer

Initial mass

The initial mass accumulated by a star during its formation within a collapsing molecular cloud is the single, fundamental attribute that dictates its entire evolutionary timeline. This mass sets the initial conditions for the star's life, specifically determining the pressure and temperature achieved within the stellar core. These core conditions are what govern the nuclear fusion reactions that power the star. A higher initial mass leads to stronger gravitational forces requiring much greater internal pressure to maintain hydrostatic equilibrium. Consequently, more massive stars burn their primary nuclear fuel, hydrogen, at an exponentially faster rate, leading directly to a dramatically shorter lifespan compared to less massive stars. While characteristics like luminosity, color, and size are observable features, they are considered symptoms or intermediate results flowing from the evolutionary path already set by the starting mass.

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evolution astronomy star celestial body mass