What approximate central temperature must a collapsing core reach to initiate nuclear fusion?
Answer
Fifteen million degrees Celsius
The defining moment marking the true birth of a star is the initiation of nuclear fusion deep within its intensely hot and dense core. This spectacular event requires the central temperature to reach approximately fifteen million degrees Celsius. At this extreme heat, the kinetic energy of the hydrogen nuclei is finally high enough to overcome their inherent electrical repulsion. Once this barrier is surpassed, the nuclei can fuse together to form helium, releasing an enormous quantity of energy that powers the star's stable existence.
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