Question

In the context of fusion reactions within stars, what happens when a star has a mass less than 0.5 solar masses?

A. Fusion reactions are more efficient.
B. Fusion reactions cease to occur.
C. Fusion reactions become uncontrollable.
D. Fusion reactions only happen in laboratory conditions.

Answer 1

Stars with a mass less than 0.5 solar masses do not sustain fusion reactions due to insufficient heat in their cores.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a star has a mass less than 0.5 solar masses, fusion reactions cease to occur. Fusion reactions, where lighter-mass nuclei join together to form a single nucleus, require extremely high temperatures that can only be found in the cores of stars. However, stars with a mass less than 0.5 solar masses do not become hot enough to sustain fusion reactions.