What is the key concept governing a star's stable existence against gravitational collapse?
Answer
Hydrostatic equilibrium
Hydrostatic equilibrium describes the delicate standoff where the inward pull of gravity is balanced by an opposing outward pressure generated by the star's internal engine, allowing the star to remain stable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the key concept governing a star's stable existence against gravitational collapse?In main-sequence stars like the Sun, what generates the necessary outward pressure to counteract gravity?What process occurs in the Sun's core at about 15 million degrees Celsius?How does a main-sequence star maintain stability if the core momentarily cools?For stars similar to or less massive than the Sun, what non-thermal mechanism halts core collapse after hydrogen fuel runs out?Which quantum mechanical principle underlies the concept of degeneracy pressure?What stellar remnant is stabilized primarily by electron degeneracy pressure?What pressure supports a neutron star formed after gravity overcomes electron degeneracy pressure?What is the approximate mass limit defining stable white dwarfs supported by electron degeneracy?What ultimate condition leads to the formation of a black hole?How does degeneracy pressure differ from thermal pressure based on temperature?