What physical change occurs to the matter as the density within the collapsing core increases dramatically?
The kinetic energy of the infalling particles starts to convert into thermal energy, causing the matter to heat up as it is squeezed
As the process of gravitational infall continues, the core undergoes significant physical transformation driven by compression. The particles constituting the gas and dust are moving inward at high velocities, possessing substantial kinetic energy. When these particles are forced together into a smaller volume—squeezed by overwhelming gravity—this kinetic energy does not simply vanish; instead, it is converted directly into thermal energy. This conversion manifests as a rapid increase in temperature, causing the material within the collapsing core to heat up substantially, a necessary precursor to eventual nuclear ignition.
