Final answer:
Stars become white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes depending on their initial mass and the amount of mass they shed as they age. A star with a final mass below the Chandrasekhar limit becomes a white dwarf, while more massive stars may become neutron stars or black holes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The evolution of a star is determined by its initial mass. Stars like the Sun will eventually become white dwarfs after shedding their outer layers and losing a significant fraction of their mass during the red-giant phase. If a star's mass drops below the Chandrasekhar limit (approximately 1.4 solar masses), it will be supported against further collapse by the pressure of degenerate electrons, ending its life as a white dwarf. On the other hand, more massive stars that do not lose enough mass will undergo more extreme fates; if they exceed the Chandrasekhar limit after burning their nuclear fuel, they may collapse into a neutron star or, if massive enough, into a black hole. The core collapse of massive stars is often marked by a supernova, an explosive shedding of its outer layers.