The Duration of the Oxygen-Fusing Stage in the Core of a Massive

question 173

Multiple Choice

The duration of the oxygen-fusing stage in the core of a massive star is considerably shorter than the duration of the carbon-fusing stage. One main reason for this is that

• A) carbon is a solid, while oxygen is a gas.
• B) oxygen fusion does not begin until the contracting core has reached a higher temperature than the temperature at which carbon fusion is possible.
• C) the electron degeneracy inhibits the carbon reaction, but it has been removed by the time oxygen fusion begins.
• D) there are more fusion shells surrounding the oxygen fusion core than there are around the carbon fusion core. The shells prevent the escape of oxygen before it can fuse.

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