Final answer:
The correct sequence for the evolutionary stages of low-mass stars, from earliest to latest, is: hydrogen to helium burning in core, red giant, planetary nebula, and then cooling white dwarf.
Step-by-step explanation:
The evolutionary stages of low-mass stars occur in a distinct order as they transition from one phase to another in their lifetime. The earliest stage is when they are fusing hydrogen into helium in their cores, lying on the zero-age main sequence.
As they exhaust hydrogen in the core, these stars become red giants, with their cores contracting and their outer layers expanding. Following the red giant phase, the star ejects its outer layers into space, creating a planetary nebula.
Finally, the exposed core becomes a cooling white dwarf, which will continue to cool over billions of years.
- Hydrogen-> helium burning in core
- Red giant
- Planetary nebula
- Cooling white dwarf