What happens to the Jeans Mass ($M_J$) as a collapsing core contracts and its density increases?

Answer

Its Jeans Mass decreases further.

The Jeans Mass ($M_J$) is inherently dependent on the cloud's density and temperature; specifically, it is inversely related to density. As a localized core undergoes gravitational collapse, its physical dimensions shrink while its density continually increases. Because $M_J$ is inversely proportional to density, this increase in density causes the threshold mass required for stability to drop. This creates a positive feedback loop where a region that has already crossed its initial $M_J$ now finds that its current mass easily exceeds the *new, lower* $M_J$, driving a runaway collapse and initiating further fragmentation within the already contracting volume.

What happens to the Jeans Mass ($M_J$) as a collapsing core contracts and its density increases?

#Videos

What Initiates Molecular Cloud Collapse? - Physics Frontier - YouTube

Related Questions

What temperature range do molecular clouds hover within, just above absolute zero?What are the three primary forces resisting gravitational collapse in molecular clouds?What theoretical concept defines the minimum mass or size required for collapse initiation?What consequence occurs if a localized region's mass is less than the Jeans Mass ($M_J$)?What is the general requirement for overcoming turbulent pressure compared to only thermal pressure?How does the shockwave from a nearby supernova explosion trigger star formation?What particle number density range characterizes molecular clouds relative to surrounding space?What happens to the Jeans Mass ($M_J$) as a collapsing core contracts and its density increases?What adverse effect occurs if a collapsing core cannot efficiently radiate away converted gravitational energy?How do the spiral arms of the Milky Way provide an external trigger for gravitational collapse?
star formationastrophysicsmolecular cloudgravitational collapse