Which of the following statements about the stages of nuclear burning in a massive star is not true?
A)Each successive stage lasts for approximately as long as the first, hydrogen fusion stage.
B)Each successive stage of fusion requires higher temperatures than the previous stages.
C)As each stage ends, the core shrinks further.
D)Each successive stage creates an element with a higher atomic weight.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Each successive stage of nuclear burning in a massive star lasts for a shorter period of time than the previous stage. This is due to the fact that the higher the atomic weight of the elements being fused, the faster the reaction proceeds. Therefore, each successive stage requires less time to complete than the previous stage.

Which of the Following Statements About the Stages of Nuclear