Carbon fusion occur in high- mass stars but not in low- mass stars because .
A)the cores of low- mass stars never get hot enough for carbon fusion
B)only high- mass stars do fusion by the CNO cycle
C)carbon fusion can occur only in the stars known as carbon stars
D)the cores of low- mass stars never contain significant amounts of carbon

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Carbon fusion requires extremely high temperatures and pressures, which can only be reached in the cores of high-mass stars where the gravitational pressure is much higher. Low-mass stars, such as our Sun, have cores that are not dense or hot enough to initiate and sustain carbon fusion reactions.

Carbon Fusion Occur in High- Mass Stars but Not in Low-