Astronomy View all facts Glossary Help |
physical phenomena > process > physical process > motion > mass motion > contraction > gaseous fragmentation |
gaseous fragmentation comparison table |
Subject | is a kind of | has definition |
---|---|---|
contraction | mass motion | A mass motion towards the center of gravity of a celestial body |
gaseous fragmentation | contraction | The systematic breakup of a gas cloud into smaller and smaller subunits as the gas cools and continues to collapse. The gravitational forces continually overtake the opposing pressure gradients as long as the cloud is able to radiate freely; consequently, the Jeans mass decreases, and fragments divide into smaller subfragments. The process stops only when opacity intervenes to inhibit the cooling and radiation. |
Next contraction: Kelvin contraction Up: contraction Previous contraction: collapse