Which sentence describes the relationship between mass and luminosity of stars on the main sequence?
A) The luminosity of stars increases with mass up to a peak around 1 solar mass, then decreases as the mass continues to increase.
B) Luminosity is independent of the stellar mass.
C) The larger the stellar mass, the larger is the luminosity.
D) The greater the stellar mass, the less is the luminosity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The luminosity of a star on the main sequence increases with its mass. This means that more massive stars are more luminous, following a roughly exponential relationship. This is a fundamental aspect of stellar astrophysics, indicating that the nuclear fusion rate, and thus the energy output (luminosity), increases with the star's mass.

Which Sentence Describes the Relationship Between Mass and Luminosity of Stars