Which of the following statements about various stages of core nuclear burning (hydrogen, helium, carbon, and so on) in a high-mass star is not true?
A) Each successive stage lasts for approximately the same amount of time.
B) As each stage ends, the core shrinks and heats further.
C) Each successive stage creates an element with a higher atomic number and atomic mass number.
D) As each stage ends, the reactions that occurred in previous stages continue in shells around the core.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Each successive stage of core nuclear burning in a high-mass star lasts for a progressively shorter amount of time. The hydrogen burning stage lasts the longest, while the stages that create heavier elements burn for increasingly shorter periods.

Which of the Following Statements About Various Stages of Core