explain role of gravity in formation of a star.
as a star starts to form as a nebula, small amounts of matter collide and stick together, becoming larger masses with increasingly stronger gravity.
Am I correct? Please add any other info, thanks
From my perspective, that just makes a clump of matter. The fun part happens when the gravity gets so strong that the internal heat from pressure gets so high that the process of nuclear reaction starts, and the star lights up.
that's cool thanks bob :-)
Yes, you are correct! Gravity plays a crucial role in the formation of a star. Let me explain further:
The process of star formation begins with a nebula, which is a vast cloud of gas and dust in space. Within the nebula, there are small regions where the gas and dust start to gather due to some disturbance, such as the shockwaves from a nearby supernova or the gravitational pull of a passing star.
As these concentrations of gas and dust come together, the force of gravity becomes dominant. Gravity pulls matter inward, causing these clumps to collapse under their weight. As the gas and dust collapse, their density increases, and their temperature rises due to the release of potential energy.
As the collapsing cloud becomes denser and hotter, it begins to form a protostar. This protostar continues to accrete more matter from the surrounding cloud. Gravity plays a crucial role in this process because it brings the matter together, causing it to collide and stick together. This accumulation of matter gradually increases the mass of the protostar.
As the protostar continues to grow, its core gets denser and hotter. Eventually, the temperature becomes high enough (around 10 million degrees Celsius) to trigger nuclear fusion. At this point, the protostar becomes a main-sequence star, where the fusion of hydrogen atoms into helium creates a balance between the inward pull of gravity and the outward pressure generated by the fusion reactions.
In summary, gravity is the driving force behind the formation of a star. It causes the initial cloud of gas and dust to collapse, leading to the formation of a protostar. The increasing mass and density of the protostar eventually enable nuclear fusion, marking the birth of a main-sequence star.