* Higher Fusion Rate: More massive stars burn hydrogen fuel at a much faster rate due to their stronger gravity, which compresses the core and increases pressure and temperature.
* Shorter Fuel Supply: While they have more fuel initially, the higher burn rate means they consume it much faster.
Roughly, a star twice as massive as the Sun would have a main sequence lifetime of about 1.3 billion years. This is significantly less than the Sun's estimated 10 billion year lifespan.
Key Points:
* Stellar Mass and Lifespan: A star's mass is the most crucial factor determining its lifespan. More massive stars live shorter lives.
* Main Sequence: This is the longest and most stable phase in a star's life, where it fuses hydrogen into helium.
Let me know if you'd like more details on how stellar mass affects a star's evolution!
