The main-sequence lifetime of a star is given by the equation: A)τ ∝ M/L B)τ ∝ L/M C)τ ∝ M²/L D)τ ∝ L²/L E)τ ∝ M/L²

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The main-sequence lifetime (τ) of a star is proportional to its mass (M) divided by its luminosity (L), τ ∝ M/L, because the lifetime is determined by the amount of fuel available (mass) and the rate at which it is consumed (luminosity).

The Main-Sequence Lifetime of a Star Is Given by the Equation