What is the difference between a red dwarf and a white dwarf star?

1 Answer
Jun 24, 2017

A red dwarf is a small long lived star and a white dwarf is a dead star.

Explanation:

A red dwarf is a main sequence star with a mass of less than half of that of the Sun. The fuse Hydrogen at a slow rate and are thought to remain in main sequence for trillions of years.

No red dwarf stars have had a chance to get beyond main sequence as the universe isn't old enough for that to happen.

When a star of less than ten solar masses runs out of fusible material in its core, it ultimately collapses into a white dwarf. A white dwarf is the remnant of a star which does not have high enough core temperatures and pressures for fusion reactions to continue.

Ultimately all red dwarf stars will become white dwarfs if the universe lasts long enough for it to happen.