A brown dwarf is often called a "failed star" because, although it has enough mass to initiate nuclear fusion (which is the process that powers stars), it doesn't have enough mass to sustain it. As a result, brown dwarfs never become true stars and they only emit a small amount of energy from the leftover heat of their formation.

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A Brown Dwarf Is A

Question 36

Multiple Choice

A brown dwarf is a:

A) low-mass star.
B) failed star.
C) stellar remnant supported by electron degeneracy pressure.
D) stellar remnant supported by neutron degeneracy pressure.

Correct Answer: