Question

Explain the process of red dwarf stars with less than ~0.4 solar masses.

A) Red dwarf stars primarily undergo nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium through the proton-proton chain.
B) Red dwarf stars fuse heavier elements like carbon and oxygen, leading to their reddish appearance.
C) Red dwarf stars do not undergo nuclear fusion; they rely on gravitational contraction for energy.
D) Red dwarf stars exhibit a rapid fusion process, turning into giant stars in a short period.

Answer 1

Red dwarf stars under 0.4 solar masses primarily undergo hydrogen fusion through the proton-proton chain, and they do not fuse heavier elements rapidly or become giant stars in a short period.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process for red dwarf stars with less than approximately 0.4 solar masses primarily involves the nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium via the proton-proton chain. This is in contrast to massive stars, which can fuse heavier elements like helium into carbon and so on into even heavier elements such as oxygen, neon, and magnesium, ending in iron before their eventual supernova. Red dwarfs do not reach the necessary core temperatures to fuse elements beyond helium efficiently, and they exhibit a much slower and steadier fusion process, meaning they will not turn into giant stars quickly. Instead, they burn their fuel slowly and can last trillions of years, far longer than more massive stars.