In massive stars (greater than eight solar masses), what process occurs after the core's hydrogen fuel is exhausted?
Answer
The core contracts, igniting previously formed helium into carbon and oxygen
For stars significantly more massive than the Sun, gravity forces the core to contract enough to reach the temperature required to fuse the accumulated helium into heavier elements like carbon and oxygen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cosmic engine responsible for forging elements beyond the universe's initial composition?What mechanism balances the inward pull of gravity in a star?During its main-sequence phase, what is the primary fusion reaction occurring in a star like the Sun?In massive stars (greater than eight solar masses), what process occurs after the core's hydrogen fuel is exhausted?What characteristic structure results from layered burning in evolved massive stars?Why does the build-up of elements through standard fusion stop abruptly at iron ($ ext{Fe}$)?What process generates elements heavier than iron, such as gold and uranium?What mechanism accounts for the creation of elements up to bismuth ($ ext{Bi}$) in less massive, aging stars?What is the primary fate of the elements produced by a solar-mass star near the end of its life?What is the significance of the Sun being a second-generation star?What event triggers the catastrophic collapse of a star's iron core?