Stars

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  • Created by: roopa
  • Created on: 11-04-15 14:56

How Stars Form

Star formation happens in this order.

  • Interstellar dust and gas is drawn together by gravity (as more dust gathers, gravity increases pulling in more gas etc).
  • The loss if potential energy of the gas leads to an increase of kinetic energy and with that, an increase in temperature.
  • Eventually, it becomes hot enough for nuclear fusion to take place which releases vast amounts of energy.
  • The star is stable when the gravitational pressure is equal to the radiation pressure. (Remember, the star wants to collapse, but this is opposed by heat in the centre).
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