What happens to a typical star after its core hydrogen fuel is exhausted?

Answer

It swells into a red giant, possibly fuses helium, and leaves a remnant

The life cycle of a standard star, exemplified by our Sun, is strictly dictated by its finite fuel supply. When the hydrogen fuel in the core is depleted, the perfect equilibrium between fusion pressure and gravitational collapse is broken. The star can no longer maintain its main sequence structure and begins to evolve dramatically. This typically involves swelling into a red giant phase, where helium burning might commence in the core if the star is massive enough. Ultimately, the active life ends with the star shedding its outer layers, leaving behind a dense remnant such as a white dwarf, a neutron star, or, for the most massive stars, a black hole. This progression confirms the finite nature of its lifespan dictated by thermonuclear consumption.

What happens to a typical star after its core hydrogen fuel is exhausted?

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