What are the life cycles for small, large and extra large stars?

The sun, which is currently at 5 billion years old, will last approximately 10 billion years. Stars that are ten times as massive as our sun will live for about 10 million years, and many of them will die in a supernova. The smallest stars may live for 100 billion years or longer, but we really don't know.

Small stars, like our Sun, go through phases like main sequence, red giant, planetary nebula, and white dwarf; large stars go through phases like main sequence, red supergiant, supernova explosion, and either neutron star or black hole formation; extra large stars go through phases like these but, because of their larger mass, end in a supernova explosion that leaves behind a black hole.

The life cycles of stars depend on their mass. Here's a brief overview:

1. Small Stars (Low to Medium Mass):

   • Formation: Small stars form from clouds of gas and dust, undergoing gravitational collapse.
   • Main Sequence: They spend the majority of their lives fusing hydrogen into helium in their cores, known as the main sequence phase.
   • Red Giant: As they run out of hydrogen fuel, they expand into red giants, burning helium in their cores.
   • Planetary Nebula: Eventually, they shed their outer layers, forming a planetary nebula.
   • White Dwarf: The remaining core contracts to become a white dwarf, gradually cooling over billions of years.

2. Large Stars (High Mass):

   • Formation: Large stars form from more massive gas clouds with greater gravitational pull.
   • Main Sequence: They quickly evolve into blue giants and spend a relatively short time on the main sequence.
   • Red Supergiant: As they run out of hydrogen, they expand into red supergiants, burning heavier elements in their cores.
   • Supernova: When the core collapses, it triggers a supernova explosion, dispersing heavy elements into space.
   • Neutron Star or Black Hole: Depending on the mass, the core collapses to form either a neutron star or a black hole.

3. Extra Large Stars (Very High Mass):

   • Similar to large stars but with even shorter lifespans due to their higher mass.
   • They undergo the same stages of formation, main sequence, expansion into supergiants, and end with a supernova explosion.
   • However, their cores may collapse further into more massive black holes.

These stages represent the general life cycles of stars, with variations depending on their mass and other factors.