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A supernova occurs when a star exhausts its nuclear fuel, typically hydrogen and helium, leading to a collapse under its own gravity. In the case of a massive star (Type II supernova), the core collapses after fusing heavier elements up to iron, which cannot produce energy through fusion. For a white dwarf (Type Ia supernova), it accumulates material from a companion star until it reaches a critical mass and undergoes a thermonuclear explosion. Thus, the "fuel" for a supernova is the remnants of nuclear fusion processes in a star's life cycle.

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2mo ago

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Related Questions

What makes a supernova occur in a star's lifecycle?

A supernova occurs in a star's lifecycle when it runs out of fuel and its core collapses, causing a massive explosion.


What type of supernova will Betelgeuse be?

Betelgeuse is expected to end its life in a supernova explosion, likely as a Type II supernova due to its massive size and age. This type of supernova occurs when a massive star exhausts its nuclear fuel and collapses under its own gravity.


What do you call an explosion of a star that has almost used up all of its fuel?

A supernova.


What would happen to the sun when it ran out of fuel if it the mass was as 10 times as it does?

It would supernova.


What is produced by rapid contraction of a very heavy main sequence star that run out of fuel?

Supernova


What is produced by rapid contraction of a very heavy main sequence star that has a run out of fuel?

Supernova


What is produced by rapid contraction of a very heavy main sequence star that has run out of fuel?

Supernova


What is the difference of a nebula and a supernova?

A nebula contains stars and other matter; a supernova is just a large enough nova, or star that explodes at the end of its life cycle due to spent fuel


Can a planet go supernova?

No, only large stars go supernova when nuclear fusion breaks down. While white dwarfs can go supernova in some instances, brown dwarfs are failed stars which are not powered by nuclear fusion.


What are exploding stars?

Dangerous. Novas, or supernovas. Tycho Brahe coined the phrase "nova stellarum" when a "new star" appeared in the night sky. We now know that he was observing a supernova, the death throes of a very massive star.


Can supernova be a red giant?

Yes, a red giant star can undergo a supernova explosion at the end of its life cycle. This occurs when the star has exhausted its nuclear fuel and can no longer support itself against gravity, leading to a dramatic collapse and subsequent explosion.


What do red giants become after they run out of fuel?

They explode as a supernova/hypernova to form a planetary nebula/black hole.