READ: Why Dwarfs and Giants are Rare

Why Dwarfs and Giants are Rare

https://moodleshare.org/pluginfile.php/5439/mod_page/content/1/white_dwarf_nasa_revised.jpg
 
Artist depiction of a white dwarf. Picture courtesy of NASA. Public domain.




There are several reasons why most stars are found to be in their main sequence:

1) The mass needed to become a supergiant or larger is very rare. Most stars are far smaller in mass.

2) The main sequence is the longest phase in the lifespan of a star. A main sequence can last several billion years.

3) The universe itself is between 13-14 billion years old. That is not enough time for a large number of stars to become dwarfs.
Last modified: Friday, 30 April 2010, 1:50 PM