Which of the following describes the evolutionary stages of a star with three times the mass of the Sun?
A) horizontal branch, main sequence, red giant, asymptotic giant branch
B) main sequence, asymptotic giant branch, red giant, horizontal branch
C) main sequence, horizontal branch, red giant, asymptotic giant branch
D) main sequence, red giant, horizontal branch, asymptotic giant branch

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A star with three times the mass of the Sun first goes through the main sequence stage, where it fuses hydrogen into helium in its core. It then becomes a red giant, where it fuses helium into heavier elements. After this stage, it moves to the horizontal branch, where it burns helium in its core and hydrogen in a shell surrounding the core. Finally, it reaches the asymptotic giant branch, where it undergoes a series of thermal pulses and loses mass through strong stellar winds. Therefore, the correct evolutionary stages for a star with three times the mass of the Sun are main sequence, red giant, horizontal branch, asymptotic giant branch, making option D the correct answer.

Which of the Following Describes the Evolutionary Stages of a Star