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Question
when does a star move off the main sequence?
when helium begins to fuse into carbon
when its luminsoty decreases
when it stops fusing hydrogen into helium
when it turns into a supernova
A star spends most of its life in the main - sequence phase, fusing hydrogen into helium. Once the hydrogen fuel in the core is exhausted (i.e., when it stops fusing hydrogen into helium), gravitational collapse occurs, and the star moves off the main sequence. Helium - to - carbon fusion occurs later in the star's evolution (in red - giant or super - giant phases for some stars). A star's luminosity does not decrease as the immediate cause of leaving the main sequence. A supernova is a very late - stage event (for massive stars) well after leaving the main sequence.
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When it stops fusing hydrogen into helium