What state describes a star on the Main Sequence after fusion ignition?
Answer
Hydrostatic equilibrium
The Main Sequence phase begins when the outward pressure generated by nuclear fusion perfectly balances the inward crushing force exerted by gravity, resulting in a stable state known as hydrostatic equilibrium.
Related Questions
What elements are stars primarily responsible for creating?What are the vast clouds of interstellar gas and dust where stars originate called?How does the density of a typical Giant Molecular Cloud compare to a vacuum on Earth?What initiates the gravitational collapse needed for star formation?How long does the gravitational collapse process typically take to fully condense massive gas fragments?What is the primary energy source causing a protostar to glow?What structure forms around a protostar from material that misses the central core?What approximate core temperature must be reached to ignite sustained hydrogen fusion?What state describes a star on the Main Sequence after fusion ignition?What happens to a fragment if its core temperature never reaches the threshold for sustained fusion?What is the single most crucial variable determining a star's subsequent characteristics after fusion begins?