What physical process generates the outward thermal pressure in a star's core?
Answer
Nuclear fusion
Extreme temperatures and pressures in the core cause hydrogen nuclei to fuse into helium, releasing vast amounts of energy that manifests as heat and outward-moving radiation pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two fundamental opposing forces governing a star's existence?What is the primary origin of the inward force acting on a star?What physical process generates the outward thermal pressure in a star's core?What term describes the state where a star achieves perfect balance between inward and outward forces?How is the state of hydrostatic equilibrium characterized?What causes a star to begin transforming into a red giant?How does the required fusion rate differ between low-mass and very massive stars?What outcome results when gravity wins the internal stellar struggle decisively?During which phase does a star spend the majority of its existence in near-perfect balance?What halts the initial gravitational collapse of a gas cloud to form a star?