What are the forces in a main sequence star?
The star turns on and becomes a main sequence star, powered by hydrogen fusion. Fusion produces an outward pressure that balances with the inward pressure caused by gravity, stabilizing the star.
How does a star stay on the main sequence?
Main Sequence Stars Stars are fueled by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen to form helium deep in their interiors. The outflow of energy from the central regions of the star provides the pressure necessary to keep the star from collapsing under its own weight, and the energy by which it shines.
What keeps a main sequence star in equilibrium?
In a main sequence star, this inward pull is balanced by the outward gas pressure due to the nuclear fusion reactions deep in the star's core. This balance is called hydrostatic equilibrium and stops main sequence stars from collapsing.
What is a characteristic of a main sequence star quizlet?
What is characteristic of a main sequence star? The rate of nuclear energy generated in the hydrogen to helium fusing core equals the rate radiated from the surface.
What two forces are in conflict while a star is on the main sequence?
Gravity and the fusion reaction What holds a star together is a balance of two forces pushing against each other. Gravity pulls the star's atoms in towards the center, just as gravity pulls you toward the Earth. The fusion reaction going on inside the star pushes the atoms away from the center, towards space.
When the gravitational force and the pressure forces are in balance a star is in which stage of stellar evolution?
In the Main Sequence Phase of a star's evolution, radiation pressure pushing outward exactly balances the gravitational pressure pulling inward (this balance is called Hydrostatic Equilibrium). Because these two forces are exactly in balance, the star is stable (this means it neither shrinks nor expands).
What the conditions need to be for a star to remain stable?
As long as the inward force of gravity and the outward force generated by the fusion reactions are equal, the star remains stable.
What main factor determines the stages a star will follow after the main sequence?
mass The amount of mass a star has determines which of the following life cycle paths it will take from there. The life cycle of a low mass star (left oval) and a high mass star (right oval).
What stops the Sun from collapsing under the force of its own gravity?
What keeps the Sun from collapsing under its own gravity? Hydro static Equilibrium (Gravitational): The outward push of gas pressure balances the inward pull of gravity. -Keeps the sun's core hot and dense enough to release energy through nuclear fusion.
What forces are balanced in a stable main sequence star like the Sun state what the force is and in what direction the force acts inwards outwards etc?
All main sequence stars (including the Sun) are in hydrostatic equilibrium. That is, the inward force of gravity, which tends to compress the star, is balanced by the outward force due to the pressure.
What is the force that keeps a main sequence star from collapsing on itself quizlet?
The cloud fragments into smaller clouds and forms many stars at one time. What is the force that keeps a main sequence star from collapsing on itself? mass.
What forces a star like the Sun to evolve off the main sequence?
When a main-sequence star has consumed the hydrogen at its core, the loss of energy generation causes its gravitational collapse to resume and the star evolves off the main sequence. The path which the star follows across the HR diagram is called an evolutionary track.
What two forces must equalize before the star is considered a main sequence star?
In order for the main-sequence star to be maintained, a balance is required between the force of pressure, which is provided by nuclear fusion and the release of energy, and the force of gravity.
What are the two forces that balance out a star when it is in stellar equilibrium?
In the Main Sequence Phase of a star's evolution, radiation pressure pushing outward exactly balances the gravitational pressure pulling inward (this balance is called Hydrostatic Equilibrium). Because these two forces are exactly in balance, the star is stable (this means it neither shrinks nor expands).
What forces hold a star together in stellar equilibrium?
Explanation: Stellar equilibrium is also known as hydrostatic equilibrium. A star is in equilibrium when the pressures inside the star balance out the force of gravity. The pressure is thermal pressure resulting from the fusion reactions taking place in the star's core.
What forces keep a star in balance?
Stars live out their lives in an exquisitely detailed equilibrium, or balance, between two powerful forces — outward pressure and the inward pull of gravity. The gravity force is a property of the mass of the star, and in order to support itself against gravity the star generates energy in its core.
What is the main factor that determines what a star will become?
The primary factor determining how a star evolves is its mass as it reaches the main sequence. The following is a brief outline tracing the evolution of a low-mass and a high-mass star. Stars are born out of the gravitational collapse of cool, dense molecular clouds.
What important role does gravity play in star formation?
As gravity compresses the core of a protostar, the temperature goes higher and higher. Eventually the temperature is high enough that the star starts fusing hydrogen into helium. When the outward pressure produced by the heating of the gas by fusion energy balances gravity, a stable star is formed.
What keeps the Sun from collapsing under its own gravity quizlet?
What keeps the Sun from collapsing under its own gravity? Hydro static Equilibrium (Gravitational): The outward push of gas pressure balances the inward pull of gravity. -Keeps the sun's core hot and dense enough to release energy through nuclear fusion. You just studied 18 terms!
What force balances the Sun’s gravity?
pressure Within the Sun, therefore, pressure creates an outward force, from the high-pressure core to the low-pressure surface. This is in contrast to gravity, which creates an inward force. When the force due to pressure exactly balances the force due to gravity, a system is in hydrostatic equilibrium.
What two forces must be in balance for a star to be stable?
Stars live out their lives in an exquisitely detailed equilibrium, or balance, between two powerful forces — outward pressure and the inward pull of gravity.
What force balances gravity in a star?
pressure Inside a star, the inward force of gravity is balanced by the outward force of pressure. The star is stabilized (i.e., nuclear reactions are kept under control) by a pressure-temperature thermostat.
What is the main characteristic of a main sequence star?
Main sequence stars are characterised by the source of their energy. They are all undergoing fusion of hydrogen into helium within their cores. The rate at which they do this and the amount of fuel available depends upon the mass of the star.
What causes a star to move off the main sequence?
When a main-sequence star has consumed the hydrogen at its core, the loss of energy generation causes its gravitational collapse to resume and the star evolves off the main sequence.
How do stars on the main sequence obtain their energy?
Main sequence stars are characterised by the source of their energy. They are all undergoing fusion of hydrogen into helium within their cores. The rate at which they do this and the amount of fuel available depends upon the mass of the star.
What are the two opposing forces in a star?
A Star's Life: A star's life is an extended battle between two opposing forces: gravity and pressure. A star can maintain its internal pressure only if it continually generates energy to replace the energy that it radiates into space.
What are two forces in balance for any star on the main line sequence?
In order for the main-sequence star to be maintained, a balance is required between the force of pressure, which is provided by nuclear fusion and the release of energy, and the force of gravity.
When a star is in its main sequence what forces are acting and why is the star stable?
During the main sequence period of its life cycle a star is stable because the forces in it are balanced. The outward pressure from the expanding hot gases is balanced by the force of the star's gravity. … Gravity pulls smaller amounts of dust and gas together which form planets in orbit around the star.
Which two forces can help a star maintain its equilibrium?
In a stable star, the gas pressure pushing out from the center is equal with the gravity pulling atoms inward to the center – when these forces are equal, the star is at equilibrium.
What stops the sun from collapsing under the force of its own gravity?
What keeps the Sun from collapsing under its own gravity? Hydro static Equilibrium (Gravitational): The outward push of gas pressure balances the inward pull of gravity. -Keeps the sun's core hot and dense enough to release energy through nuclear fusion.