The present estimate of the age of the universe is about 14 billion years. How long will a half-solar-mass star spend on the main sequence, compared with the present age of the universe?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A half-solar-mass star will spend significantly longer on the main sequence than a star like our Sun because lower mass stars burn their fuel more slowly. Given the present estimate of the universe's age at about 14 billion years, a half-solar-mass star can spend well over 100 billion years on the main sequence, which is more than 10 times the current age of the universe.

The Present Estimate of the Age of the Universe Is