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Chapter 20: Problem 20

What is the difference between a red giant and a red supergiant?

Short Answer

Expert verified
A red giant and a red supergiant are different types of stars. The main difference between them is their size, luminosity, and age. A red supergiant is an even bigger, brighter, and older star compared to a red giant.

Step by step solution

01

Define Red Giant

A red giant is a large star that is red in color and has a relatively low temperature. It is in a post-main-sequence phase, which means it has exhausted the supply of hydrogen in its core and is now fusing helium into carbon and oxygen.
02

Define Red Supergiant

A red supergiant, on the other hand, is an even larger star that is also red and has a low temperature. As the name suggests, it is a supergiant star and it represents a later stage of stellar evolution than the red giant. It may have a mass up to around 50 times that of the Sun, although they are relatively rare.
03

Outline Differences

The main differences between a red giant and a red supergiant are their size, luminosity, and evolution stage. While a red giant is large, a red supergiant is massive and brighter, i.e., more luminous. Also, a red supergiant is an older star in a later phase of stellar evolution.

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