Which term describes the death of a star with mass greater than about three solar masses, ending in a supernova?

Which term describes the death of a star with mass greater than about three solar masses, ending in a supernova?

• A. Massive death
• B. White dwarf
• C. Planetary nebula
• D. Black hole

Answer: (A)

Massive stars end their lives in a dramatic explosion called a supernova, as their cores collapse after exhausting fusion fuel. This explosive death is a defining fate for stars with a few solar masses or more, leaving behind neutron stars or black holes as remnants depending on the remaining mass. Among the options, the phrase that best describes this event is “massive death” because it directly signals the death of a massive star through a supernova. The other terms refer to different outcomes: a white dwarf and a planetary nebula come from lower-mass stars, and a black hole is a possible remnant rather than the explosion itself.

Massive stars end their lives in a dramatic explosion called a supernova, as their cores collapse after exhausting fusion fuel. This explosive death is a defining fate for stars with a few solar masses or more, leaving behind neutron stars or black holes as remnants depending on the remaining mass. Among the options, the phrase that best describes this event is “massive death” because it directly signals the death of a massive star through a supernova. The other terms refer to different outcomes: a white dwarf and a planetary nebula come from lower-mass stars, and a black hole is a possible remnant rather than the explosion itself.