What physical process fundamentally defines a star?
Answer
Sustained, self-regulating nuclear reaction within its core
A star is defined by its ability to maintain nuclear reactions in its core, which generates the energy needed to counteract the inward pull of its own gravity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the approximate mass percentage breakdown of hydrogen and helium in the early universe?What physical process fundamentally defines a star?What is the primary fuel source during a star's main sequence phase?Which fusion mechanism dominates in stars more massive than about 1.3 times the Sun's mass?What element marks the point where nuclear fusion in a stellar core stops releasing energy?What element is primarily formed when helium nuclei combine via the triple-alpha process?Where are elements heavier than iron primarily synthesized?In astrophysics, what does the term 'metallicity' refer to?What remains after a lower-mass star like the Sun gently sheds its outer layers?How does the energy generation of the CNO cycle compare to the PP chain regarding temperature sensitivity?Which fusion process provides the majority of the Sun's energy output?