To predict whether a star will ultimately become a black hole, what is the key property of the star we should look at?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The key property to look at to predict whether a star will become a black hole is its mass. Only stars that have a mass greater than 20 times that of the Sun have the potential to become black holes. This is because a star's mass determines how much pressure and temperature build up at its core, where nuclear fusion occurs. If the core's temperature and pressure become high enough, the fusion of lighter elements into heavier ones will create an iron core. Since iron cannot undergo fusion to release energy, the core collapses, triggering a supernova explosion that can either leave behind a neutron star or a black hole, depending on the star's mass.

To Predict Whether a Star Will Ultimately Become a Black