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Failed Star vs. Star

What's the Difference?

Failed Star and Star are both celestial bodies that emit light and heat, but they differ in their size and composition. A Failed Star, also known as a brown dwarf, is a substellar object that is not massive enough to sustain nuclear fusion in its core, making it unable to shine like a true star. On the other hand, a Star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity, capable of producing its own energy through nuclear fusion reactions. While both Failed Stars and Stars play important roles in the universe, their fundamental differences in size and composition set them apart in terms of their physical properties and behavior.

Comparison

AttributeFailed StarStar
FormationFormed from collapsing gas and dust but failed to sustain nuclear fusionFormed from collapsing gas and dust and sustains nuclear fusion
SizeSmaller than a typical starVaries in size from small to supergiant
TemperatureCooler than a typical starCan range from cool to extremely hot
LuminosityLess luminous than a typical starCan be highly luminous
Life CycleShorter lifespan compared to a starCan have a long lifespan depending on size and type

Further Detail

Introduction

Stars are fascinating celestial bodies that have captured the imagination of humans for centuries. They are massive balls of gas that emit light and heat due to nuclear reactions happening in their cores. However, not all celestial bodies that form in space become stars. Some fail to ignite and become what are known as failed stars. In this article, we will compare the attributes of failed stars and stars to understand the differences between these two types of celestial bodies.

Formation

Stars are formed from clouds of gas and dust in space. When the gas and dust in a cloud come together under the force of gravity, they begin to heat up and eventually ignite nuclear fusion reactions in their cores. This ignition marks the birth of a star. Failed stars, on the other hand, do not have enough mass to ignite nuclear fusion reactions in their cores. They are often referred to as brown dwarfs or substellar objects. These failed stars are unable to sustain the nuclear reactions needed to become a full-fledged star.

Size

Stars come in various sizes, ranging from small red dwarfs to massive blue giants. The size of a star is determined by its mass, with more massive stars being larger in size. Failed stars, on the other hand, are typically smaller than stars. Brown dwarfs, for example, are often around the size of Jupiter, making them much smaller than even the smallest stars. This difference in size is due to the lack of sufficient mass in failed stars to sustain nuclear fusion reactions.

Temperature

Stars are incredibly hot celestial bodies, with surface temperatures ranging from a few thousand degrees Kelvin for cooler stars to over 30,000 degrees Kelvin for hotter stars. The high temperatures of stars are a result of the nuclear fusion reactions happening in their cores. Failed stars, on the other hand, are much cooler than stars. Brown dwarfs, for example, have surface temperatures that are much lower than those of stars. This lower temperature is due to the lack of nuclear fusion reactions in failed stars.

Light Emission

Stars emit light and heat as a result of the nuclear fusion reactions happening in their cores. This light emission is what makes stars visible to us here on Earth. Failed stars, however, do not emit as much light as stars. Brown dwarfs, for example, emit very little light compared to stars. This is because failed stars do not have the sustained nuclear reactions needed to emit significant amounts of light. As a result, failed stars are often difficult to detect and study compared to stars.

Life Cycle

Stars go through a life cycle that begins with their formation from gas and dust clouds and ends with their eventual death. Depending on their mass, stars can end their lives in various ways, such as becoming white dwarfs, neutron stars, or even black holes. Failed stars, on the other hand, do not go through the same life cycle as stars. Since they do not have sustained nuclear fusion reactions, failed stars do not undergo the same processes of stellar evolution. Instead, failed stars simply cool down over time and fade away into the darkness of space.

Conclusion

In conclusion, stars and failed stars are two distinct types of celestial bodies with different attributes. Stars are massive balls of gas that emit light and heat due to nuclear fusion reactions in their cores. Failed stars, on the other hand, are smaller celestial bodies that do not have enough mass to sustain nuclear fusion reactions. While stars go through a life cycle that includes various stages of stellar evolution, failed stars simply cool down over time and fade away. Understanding the differences between stars and failed stars can help us appreciate the diversity of celestial objects in the universe.

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