What force must overcome internal pressure for a nebula to begin gravitational collapse?
Answer
Gravity
The initiation of star formation hinges on overcoming the internal forces resisting compaction within the vast gas cloud. In a stable or quiescent state, the kinetic energy of the moving gas particles results in an outward thermal pressure that counteracts the mutual gravitational attraction trying to pull the mass inward. For the nebula to transition from a stable state to collapse, the long-range gravitational attraction, which sums up significantly over the cloud's immense mass and scale, must become stronger than this internal thermal pressure, thereby tipping the balance in favor of contraction.
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