What physical changes cause a star leaving the Main Sequence to become a red giant?
Answer
Outer layers expand significantly, increasing surface area and lowering surface temperature
The intense energy output from hydrogen shell burning pushes the outer layers outward, causing enormous expansion. This increase in surface area leads to a drop in surface temperature, shifting the star's color towards red.
#Videos
How Does A Red Giant Become A Planetary Nebula? - YouTube
How Do Red Giants Create Planetary Nebulae? - Physics Frontier
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