What fundamental forces dictate the prolonged process of stellar birth?

Answer

Gravity trying to pull everything together and pressure pushing outward

The entire lengthy process of star formation is fundamentally governed by a dynamic competition between two primary opposing forces: gravity and pressure. Gravity exerts an incessant inward pull, constantly trying to draw all the mass of the cloud inward towards a common center. Opposing this is internal pressure, which pushes outward, generated by the thermal motion of the gas particles within the cloud. For a star to form, gravity must overcome this outward pressure, leading to collapse. Once the star achieves hydrostatic equilibrium on the main sequence, these two forces achieve a perfect, stable balance, defining the star's long adult life.

What fundamental forces dictate the prolonged process of stellar birth?

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