The Smallest Mass That a Main-Sequence Star Can Have Is

question 15

Multiple Choice

The smallest mass that a main-sequence star can have is about 0.08 solar mass.The reason for this is that

• A) the temperature in the core of a contracting protostar of less than 0.08 solar masses does not get high enough for nuclear reactions to start.
• B) protostars cannot form with masses less than 0.08 solar mass.
• C) thermonuclear reactions begin so suddenly in stars of less than 0.08 solar mass that the star is disrupted by an explosion.
• D) protostars of less than 0.08 solar masses are not massive enough to contract.

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