What process efficiently carries away heat during the early stages of contraction, preventing thermal pressure from halting the collapse?
Answer
Radiative cooling, driven by molecules like carbon monoxide
In cold, dense regions, molecules like carbon monoxide emit photons that escape the cloud, effectively removing the heat generated by gravitational contraction and allowing gravity to continue driving the inward movement.
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What Causes A Nebula To Collapse? - Physics Frontier - YouTube
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