What process is responsible for generating the immense outward pressure that supports a star against gravitational collapse?
Answer
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion, occurring deep within the core where hydrogen fuses into helium, releases tremendous energy (heat and radiation) that generates the necessary outward gas pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the term used to describe the precise, active balance between a star's inward gravity and outward thermal gas pressure?What process is responsible for generating the immense outward pressure that supports a star against gravitational collapse?According to the text, where within the star is the pressure required to counteract the inward force of gravity greatest?What happens immediately in the self-regulating mechanism if a star temporarily generates too much energy?What is the primary antagonist force constantly trying to pull a star's mass toward its center?What triggers the breakdown of hydrostatic equilibrium leading a star to evolve off the main sequence?How is a star's luminosity directly related to its internal processes?What is the relationship between a star's mass and its brightness on the main sequence?What outcome occurs when gravity wins the initial skirmish after the core hydrogen fuel is exhausted?In the self-regulating feedback loop, what happens if the outward pressure slightly diminishes due to underproduction of energy?