Why is the production of iron in a high-mass star considered the end of nuclear fusion?
Answer
Fusing iron consumes energy instead of releasing it
Throughout a star's main life cycle, nuclear fusion releases energy that supports the star against gravity. When a high-mass star begins creating increasingly heavier elements like neon, magnesium, and silicon, fusion continues to provide the necessary outward pressure. However, once the star reaches the point of fusing iron, the process shifts from energy-releasing to energy-absorbing. Without the outward energy generated by fusion, the star cannot support itself against gravity, which triggers a catastrophic collapse.
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