What critical mass must a clump exceed for gravity to successfully overcome internal pressure during collapse?
Answer
Jeans Mass
The fundamental competition that governs the initial stages of star formation is the battle between the inward pull of gravity and the outward pressure generated by the temperature and turbulence within the gas and dust cloud. For a clump, defined by its specific temperature and density profile, to proceed toward gravitational collapse and fragmentation, its actual mass must exceed a certain threshold value known as the Jeans Mass. Only when the mass surpasses this Jeans Mass is the self-gravitation strong enough to initiate the runaway condensation process that leads to the formation of dense cores, setting the stage for the protostar to ignite nuclear fusion later in its evolution.
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