What best describes stellar equilibrium?

Answer 1

The balance between pressure caused by heat and gravity caused by the star's mass.

Answer 2

For most of the life of a star, there is a balance between pressure caused by heat in the core and weight of gravity the star's mass.

There is an equilibrium, or very close to it, all throughout the star. At each point in the star, the mass above is pressing down due to gravity, but because the matter in the star is so hot, there is a balancing pressure holding up the mass above. At the core, the temperature is highest and the pressure is greatest and both decrease towards the surface.

Once the fuel at the center of a star become exhausted, the stellar equilibrium is lost and the life of the star begins to fade. Depending on the mass of the star, this may be relatively quiet (small stars) or bigger stars can produce a super nova and for the largest stars the end can be a black hole.

Answer 3

It means that the forces that tend to contract the star (gravity) and the forces that tend to make it bigger (gas pressure, radiation pressure) are in equilibrium, so that the star doesn't get bigger nor smaller.

Answer 4

A star is said to be in a state of equilibrium (hydrostatic equilibrium) when the outward forces balance the inward and the star maintains a somewhat stable shape or volume. The inward force in question is usually attributed to gravitational attraction of the matter in the star, and the outward, the thermal pressure from the immense heat generated by nuclear processes in the star's core. If the forces are imbalanced the stellar equilibrium is lost. For example, when the star's fuel is exhausted it will collapse and compress down to a much smaller size until a new outward force becomes dominant, such as degeneracy pressure as occurs in a white dwarf or neutron star. If the star is massive enough these outward forces may be insufficient and the star can continue to collapse down to a black hole. In other instances, the star might become a supernova and explode shedding most of its matter into space.

Answer 5

The state of stellar equilibrium is maintained by virtue of a balance of forces, the inward pull of gravity against the outward push from thermal pressure caused by the star's heat. Normally the star would thus maintain a roughly spherical shape, slightly oblate owing to rotation. Imbalances in these forces can cause dramatic changes in the star's volume or shape; contributory factors include availability of various elements undergoing fusion in the core, changes in the star's mass, etc.

Answer 6

The balance between pressure caused by heat and gravity caused by the stars mass.

Answer 7

Pressure caused by fusion reactions in the core is balanced by the gravity exerted by the sun's mass :)

Answer 8

Stellar equilibrium is forces. This force is to contract the stars.

Answer 9

Outward pressure and inward gravity