What physical condition is crucial for gravity to overcome internal pressure and initiate clumping in a molecular cloud?
Answer
Extremely low temperature (near absolute zero)
The gas particles must have very low kinetic energy, achieved through extremely cold temperatures, allowing gravity to dominate over the random motions and internal pressure of the gas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the massive clouds of gas and dust where stars begin their formation called?What physical condition is crucial for gravity to overcome internal pressure and initiate clumping in a molecular cloud?What external event can initiate the large-scale gravitational collapse of a molecular cloud region?What is the critical density threshold called, beyond which gravity starts to win the local battle against outward pressure?What structure forms around a protostar as infalling material settles due to rotation?What is the primary source of energy for a protostar before nuclear fusion begins in its core?What are T Tauri stars, which represent pre-main sequence objects, known for exhibiting?What approximate core temperature must be reached for sustained nuclear fusion to ignite, transitioning a star to the main sequence?What state defines the long, stable phase when a star officially settles onto the main sequence?How is the duration a star spends on the main sequence related to its mass?