* Fuel Consumption: Low-mass stars burn their hydrogen fuel at a much slower rate than the Sun. This is because they have lower core temperatures and pressures.
* Gravitational Strength: The weaker gravity of a low-mass star means it doesn't need to burn fuel as quickly to maintain hydrostatic equilibrium (balance between gravity and internal pressure).
Here's a general rule of thumb:
* A star's main sequence lifetime is inversely proportional to the cube of its mass. This means a star with half the mass of the Sun will have a main sequence lifetime eight times longer.
Examples:
* Sun: Main sequence lifetime of about 10 billion years.
* Red Dwarf (0.1 solar mass): Main sequence lifetime of trillions of years.
Important Note: Even though red dwarfs have incredibly long lifespans, the universe isn't old enough for any of them to have reached the end of their main sequence phase yet.
