A star leaves the Main Sequence when: It begins fusion It goes through a Helium Flash It exhausts its store of Hydrogen as fuel for fusion

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
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Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
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A star leaves the Main Sequence when:

### Stellar Evolution and the Main Sequence

**Understanding When a Star Leaves the Main Sequence**

Consider the following question to test your understanding of stellar evolution:

**Question:**

A star leaves the Main Sequence when:
 
- ⃝ It begins fusion

- ⃝ It goes through a Helium Flash

- ⃝ It exhausts its store of Hydrogen as fuel for fusion

**Answer Explanation:**

A star transitions away from the Main Sequence stage when it has exhausted its hydrogen supply in the core. At this point, the star can no longer sustain the fusion of hydrogen into helium at the core, leading to subsequent stages of stellar evolution, which may include processes such as helium fusion (sometimes marked by a helium flash in certain types of stars).

**Detailed Explanation:**

1. **It begins fusion:**
   - This is not the correct answer because a star joins the Main Sequence when it starts hydrogen fusion in its core.
  
2. **It goes through a Helium Flash:**
   - This event typically occurs in low to intermediate-mass stars after they have already left the Main Sequence and begun fusing helium in the core.
  
3. **It exhausts its store of Hydrogen as fuel for fusion:**
   - Correct. When a star depletes its hydrogen fuel in the core, it leaves the Main Sequence and begins to evolve into a Red Giant or other evolved states depending on its mass.
Transcribed Image Text:### Stellar Evolution and the Main Sequence **Understanding When a Star Leaves the Main Sequence** Consider the following question to test your understanding of stellar evolution: **Question:** A star leaves the Main Sequence when: - ⃝ It begins fusion - ⃝ It goes through a Helium Flash - ⃝ It exhausts its store of Hydrogen as fuel for fusion **Answer Explanation:** A star transitions away from the Main Sequence stage when it has exhausted its hydrogen supply in the core. At this point, the star can no longer sustain the fusion of hydrogen into helium at the core, leading to subsequent stages of stellar evolution, which may include processes such as helium fusion (sometimes marked by a helium flash in certain types of stars). **Detailed Explanation:** 1. **It begins fusion:** - This is not the correct answer because a star joins the Main Sequence when it starts hydrogen fusion in its core. 2. **It goes through a Helium Flash:** - This event typically occurs in low to intermediate-mass stars after they have already left the Main Sequence and begun fusing helium in the core. 3. **It exhausts its store of Hydrogen as fuel for fusion:** - Correct. When a star depletes its hydrogen fuel in the core, it leaves the Main Sequence and begins to evolve into a Red Giant or other evolved states depending on its mass.
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