Which of these characteristics of a star make it most likely to become a black hole? Select the two correct answers.(1 point) Responses It is dying. It is dying. Its mass is greater than 20 times the mass of the sun. Its mass is greater than 20 times the mass of the sun. Its mass is equal to that of the sun. Its mass is equal to that of the sun. It has an abundant supply of hydrogen.
The correct answers are:
- Its mass is greater than 20 times the mass of the sun.
- It is dying.
The two correct answers for characteristics that make a star most likely to become a black hole are:
1. Its mass is greater than 20 times the mass of the sun.
2. It is dying.
The two correct answers are:
1. Its mass is greater than 20 times the mass of the sun.
2. It is dying.
To understand why these characteristics make a star more likely to become a black hole, we need to delve into the life cycle of stars.
Stars are primarily composed of hydrogen, and their energy is generated through nuclear fusion in their cores. Fusion reactions combine hydrogen atoms to form helium, releasing a tremendous amount of energy. This energy counteracts the gravitational force trying to collapse the star.
As a star evolves, it consumes its nuclear fuel and undergoes changes based on its mass. Lower-mass stars, like our sun, eventually expand into red giants and shed their outer layers, leaving behind a dense core known as a white dwarf.
However, more massive stars follow a different path. When a star with a mass greater than 20 times that of the sun exhausts its nuclear fuel, it can no longer sustain fusion reactions. The inward pull of gravity becomes dominant, causing the star to collapse under its own weight.
The gravitational collapse of a massive star triggers a supernova explosion, expelling its outer layers into space while compressing the core. If the collapsing core has a mass more than three times that of the sun (the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit), the force of gravity overwhelms all other forces. This results in a dense remnant known as a black hole.
Therefore, a star with a mass greater than 20 times that of the sun has a higher likelihood of becoming a black hole because its gravity is strong enough to cause a collapse leading to a black hole formation. Additionally, being in the dying phase is crucial because it signifies the star has consumed its nuclear fuel, making it susceptible to collapse.