Final answer:
The helium core of a red giant doesn't immediately fuse into heavier elements due to insufficient temperatures; it requires a core temperature of about 100 million K for helium to begin fusing into carbon through the triple-alpha process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The helium core of a red giant does not immediately start fusing to heavier elements because the conditions within the core have not yet reached the necessary extremes. Specifically, the core must achieve a high enough temperature of around 100 million K for helium to start fusing into carbon, a process known as the triple-alpha process.
Until the star's core reaches these temperatures, the helium remains inert because the fusion of helium requires much higher temperatures compared to hydrogen fusion. As a red giant's core contracts, it heats up further and eventually reaches this critical temperature, allowing for the fusion of helium into heavier elements like carbon.
The helium core of a red giant doesn't immediately start fusing to heavier elements due to the lack of temperature and insufficient pressure. In order for helium fusion to occur, the temperature needs to be around 100 million K, which can take time to reach. Once the temperature reaches the required level, helium can begin to fuse and form heavier elements.