What theoretical concept relates to the critical threshold of mass needed to initiate gravitational dominance in a protostellar nebula?
Answer
Jeans Mass
The transition from stability to runaway collapse in a molecular cloud region is governed by a critical mass requirement known theoretically as the Jeans Mass. When a localized region within the nebula accumulates mass such that it reaches or exceeds this theoretical threshold, the influence of long-range gravitational attraction becomes dominant over the opposing internal thermal pressure exerted by the moving gas particles. Exceeding the Jeans Mass signifies that gravity is sufficiently strong across the volume of that region to initiate a decisive, self-sustaining inward collapse, leading to the formation of a protostellar or solar nebula core.
Related Questions
What two elements overwhelmingly compose the gas within the nebulae that form stars?What force must overcome internal pressure for a nebula to begin gravitational collapse?What theoretical concept relates to the critical threshold of mass needed to initiate gravitational dominance in a protostellar nebula?Which molecule can radiate radio waves through an opaque cloud to carry thermal energy away, thus aiding contraction?What astrophysical event is cited as a potential external trigger providing initial shock compression to a molecular cloud?What structure forms around a nascent star due to the conservation of angular momentum during gravitational squeeze?In a quiescent state, what form of energy in gas particles exerts outward pressure countering gravity?The material that formed our Solar System is thought to have originated from the remnants of a star that ended in what event?Why did the very first stars in the universe require vastly greater initial masses than modern Sun-like stars?During initial collapse, gravitational potential energy is first converted into what form of energy that heats the gas?