What process causes gravitational collapse in a gas cloud leading to star birth?
Answer
Gravitational forces overcoming the outward thermal pressure
Star formation is initiated when the inherent gravitational instability within a gas cloud reaches a critical point. This means that the collective self-gravity of a dense region must become stronger than the opposing force of the gas particles' internal thermal motion, or pressure. When gravity successfully dominates, the region begins a process of sustained gravitational collapse. This contraction relentlessly increases core density and temperature until the central conditions are met for nuclear fusion to ignite, officially marking the birth of a star.
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