Exactly. It is the heat of fusion that ultimately balances the force of gravity so that the star is in equilibrium, neither shrinking nor growing (at least, while it is main sequence).Well, come to think of it, I'd think the hotter the gas gets, the more the collapse would be slowed!What would slow it down? The thing that starts the star formation process is a sufficient mass of gas to heat to fusion temperatures as it collapses on itself.
I get that, but it just seems impossible that there could be so much. On the other hand, I suppose what you're really saying is that gravitational heating must of necessity be able to get hot enough in the core that it can initiate fusion! Ok, I'm convinced.But now I have to ask if it is at all possible, in some cases, for gravitational collapse to be so gradual that temperatures never get so high?
But now I have to ask if it is at all possible, in some cases, for gravitational collapse to be so gradual that temperatures never get so high?Statistics: Posted by Chris Peterson — Fri Feb 14, 2025 12:21 am — Replies 12 — Views 398