What condition defines a healthy, main-sequence star balancing gravity?
Answer
Hydrostatic equilibrium.
Hydrostatic equilibrium is the precise physical state describing a healthy, stable star during its main sequence life. This balance is achieved when the immense, constant inward force generated by the star's own gravity is perfectly counteracted by the sustained outward thermal and radiation pressure produced by nuclear fusion occurring in the core. As long as hydrogen fusion proceeds smoothly, generating this outward push, the star maintains a consistent size and structure. The depletion of core fuel disrupts this delicate balance, forcing the star into contraction and triggering the subsequent stages of internal reorganization.
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