Approximately 90% of stars in the universe are categorized as main sequence stars. These stars, like our Sun, are in the stable phase of their lifecycle where they fuse hydrogen into helium in their cores. Main sequence stars vary in size and temperature, leading to differences in brightness and color.
The term "main sequence" refers to stars that are in the phase of their life cycle where they are fusing hydrogen into helium in their cores. It is called the main sequence because the majority of a star's life is spent in this phase, during which it maintains a stable energy output and size.
Main sequence stars maintain a stable size due to the balance between the inward gravitational forces and the outward pressure from nuclear fusion in their cores. This equilibrium, known as hydrostatic equilibrium, allows these stars to remain stable for millions to billions of years, depending on their mass. Once they exhaust their nuclear fuel, they may evolve into different types of stars, such as red giants or white dwarfs, leading to changes in size.
Stars of average size are called main-sequence stars. These stars, like our Sun, are in a stable phase of nuclear fusion where they convert hydrogen into helium in their cores. Main-sequence stars are the most common type of stars in the universe.
It can have many different sizes. Only the largest giants are no longer main sequence stars.
A main-sequence star like the sun maintains a stable size through a balance of internal pressure from nuclear fusion pushing outwards and gravity pulling inwards. The energy produced by nuclear fusion in the core counteracts the force of gravity trying to collapse the star, keeping it in equilibrium and preventing it from expanding or contracting significantly.
Understand that the Main Sequence is not a place or a category that a star belongs to all its life. A star's destiny is controlled by its size and this determines how much time it spends on the Main Sequence.
A huge amount. As a rough comparison: Main sequence size a beach ball, white dwarf size a marble. The white dwarf, though is millions of times denser than it's main sequence parent.
If Our Star Were the size of a Basketball, Sirius A (Main Sequence) Would be a size of A Teddy Bear.
If Our Star Were the size of a Basketball, Sirius A (Main Sequence) Would be a size of A Teddy Bear.
A forming star becomes stable when it reaches a balance between the inward force of gravity and the outward force generated by nuclear fusion in its core. This balance allows the star to maintain a stable size and temperature for a prolonged period of time, during which it enters the main sequence phase of its life cycle.
A main sequence star is NOT a TYPE of star but a period in a stars evolution. Therefore all stars from the hottest to the coolest are on the main sequence at some stage - with the exception of brown dwarfs which do not reach the main sequence.