One Star in a Binary Will Almost Always Become a Red

question 21

Multiple Choice

One star in a binary will almost always become a red giant before the other because

• A) one star is always larger in radius than the other.
• B) binaries always have one star twice as massive as the other.
• C) small differences in main-sequence masses yield large differences in main-sequence lifetimes.
• D) the more massive binary star always gets more mass from the less massive binary star when both are main-sequence stars.
• E) one star always spins faster than the other.

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Definitions:

Hydrogen Halides

Compounds formed by the reaction of hydrogen with halogen elements, resulting in hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, and hydrogen iodide.

Relative Stabilities

The comparative energy levels of molecules or conformations, indicating how likely they are to exist under standard conditions.

Regio-

A prefix indicating the region or position in a molecule where a certain chemical reaction takes place or where certain substituents are located.

Stereochemical Detail

Information regarding the spatial arrangement of atoms within a molecule, affecting its chemical behavior.