What Happens in the Process of Gravitational Condensation? Quiz Answer

What Happens in the Process of Gravitational Condensation?

Gravitational condensation is a process that occurs during the formation of celestial bodies, such as stars and planets, from clouds of gas and dust in space. Here's what happens during gravitational condensation:

1. Formation of Protostar/Protoplanetary Disk: Initially, a large cloud of gas and dust in space begins to collapse under the influence of gravity. As the cloud collapses, it starts to spin due to conservation of angular momentum, forming a flattened disk-like structure known as a protostellar or protoplanetary disk.

2. Increase in Density and Temperature: As the collapse continues, the density and temperature within the core of the protostar or the central region of the protoplanetary disk increase. This increase in density and temperature is a result of the gravitational potential energy being converted into kinetic energy and then thermal energy.

3. Nuclear Fusion (for Stars): In the case of star formation, when the core temperature reaches about 10 million degrees Celsius, nuclear fusion reactions ignite. Hydrogen atoms in the core undergo fusion to form helium, releasing enormous amounts of energy in the form of light and heat. This marks the birth of a star.

4. Accretion (for Planets): In the case of planet formation, within the protoplanetary disk, solid particles such as dust grains collide and stick together, forming larger and larger clumps called planetesimals. These planetesimals continue to collide and merge, eventually forming planets or moons.

5. Clearing of Debris: As the star or planet continues to accrete material from the surrounding disk, it begins to clear out its immediate vicinity, sweeping up remaining gas and dust. This process eventually leads to the formation of a stable, mature star system or planetary system.