What happens in the process of gravitational condensation?
An object decreases in size due to the collision of materials. An object increases in size due to the addition of materials. Gas particles are formed from solar nebula materials.
How is a planetesimal formed?
A planetesimal is an object formed from dust, rock, and other materials. According to the planetesimal hypothesis, when a planetary system is forming, there is a protoplanetary disk with materials from the nebulae from which the system came. This material is gradually pulled together by gravity to form small chunks.
What is one event that can cause a nebula to start to collapse?
Irregularities in the density of the gas causes a net gravitational force that pulls the gas molecules closer together. Some astronomers think that a gravitational or magnetic disturbance causes the nebula to collapse. As the gases collect, they lose potential energy, which results in an increase in temperature.
What two forces keep nebula balanced?
Chapter 3 – Formation of the Solar System -Review Game
| A | B |
|---|---|
| Early organisms added oxygen to Earth’s atmosphere as they made food through what process? | photosynthesis |
| Earth’s period of revolution is about how long? | one year |
| What two opposing forces must stay balanced to keep a nebula from collapsing? | gravity and pressure |
What are the 2 options for a protostar?
There are two options for a protostar at this point:
- Option 1: If a critical temperature in the core of a protostar is not reached, it ends up a brown dwarf. This mass never makes “star status.”
- Option 2: If a critical temperature in the core of a protostar is reached, then nuclear fusion begins.
What happens when you upset the balance of forces in a nebula?
Sometimes something happens to upset this balance. Two nebulas can crash into each other, for example, or a nearby star can explode, causing material from the star to crash into the cloud. These events compress small regions of the cloud so that gravity overcomes the pressure.
What is the lifespan of an average star?
about 10 billion years
What happens to low mass stars when they run out of fuel?
When a main sequence star begins to run out of hydrogen fuel, the star becomes a red giant or a red super giant. THE DEATH OF A LOW OR MEDIUM MASS STAR After a low or medium mass or star has become a red giant the outer parts grow bigger and drift into space, forming a cloud of gas called a planetary nebula.