When does a star stop shining stably, forcing internal reorganization?
Answer
When the supply of hydrogen in its core is exhausted
The stable, luminous phase of a star, known as the main sequence, is sustained by the fusion of hydrogen in the core, which creates an outward pressure balancing gravity. A star stops shining *stably* and begins its death process when this primary fuel source—the core hydrogen—is completely consumed or exhausted. This depletion causes the outward thermal pressure derived from fusion to drop, allowing gravity to immediately take over. Gravity then causes the core to contract and heat up dramatically, forcing the star to reorganize its internal structure to find new energy sources or face collapse.
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