Question

how does the life cycle of a low mass star differ from the life cycle of a high mass star

Answer 1

High mass stars burn hotter and use up their fuel faster; they have short life cycles. High mass stars will explode as a super nova when they run out of fuel and either end their days as a neutron star or a black hole whereas low mass stars burn cooler and slowly burn their fuel. They have much longer life cycles. Low mass stars will swell to a red giant before settling as a white dwarf at the end of their lives.