How does the CNO cycle's rate respond to temperature changes compared to the P-P chain?
Answer
The CNO cycle is far more temperature-sensitive (scaling by T to the 18th power).
The CNO cycle's reaction rate scales by the 18th power of the temperature, whereas the P-P chain scales only by the 4th power, making the CNO cycle dramatically faster with slight temperature increases.
Related Questions
What condition balances the inward crushing force of gravity in a main sequence star's core?What is the primary energy source for a star residing on the main sequence?Which fusion mechanism is dominant in stars significantly more massive than the Sun?What must atomic nuclei overcome to initiate hydrogen fusion?What is the rate-limiting step in the Proton-Proton chain reaction?In the CNO cycle, what specific function do carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen nuclei perform?How does the CNO cycle's rate respond to temperature changes compared to the P-P chain?What happens to a star if its core fusion rate slightly increases above equilibrium?What is the relationship between a star's mass and its main sequence characteristics?What internal structure describes a low-mass star, like 0.5 Solar Masses?How long is the Sun expected to remain in its stable main sequence phase?