Gravitational Collapse

Definition

Gravitational collapse is the process by which a massive object, such as a star or cloud of gas and dust, contracts under its own gravitational attraction. This contraction can lead to the formation of various celestial bodies and the release of tremendous amounts of energy.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Gravitational collapse is a crucial process in the formation and evolution of stars, planets, and other celestial bodies.
2. The collapse of a massive cloud of gas and dust can lead to the formation of a protostar, which eventually becomes a main-sequence star.
3. Gravitational collapse is the driving force behind the explosive death of massive stars in supernovae, which can leave behind neutron stars or black holes.
4. The extreme density and gravity of a neutron star are the result of the gravitational collapse of a massive star's core.
5. Gravitational collapse is also believed to be the mechanism behind the formation of black holes, where the gravitational pull becomes so strong that even light cannot escape.

Review Questions

• Explain how gravitational collapse is involved in the origin and evolution of the solar system, as described in Section 7.4.
  • According to Section 7.4, gravitational collapse played a crucial role in the origin of the solar system. The collapse of a massive cloud of gas and dust under its own gravity led to the formation of a protostar, which eventually became the Sun. This gravitational collapse also resulted in the formation of a protoplanetary disk, from which the planets and other bodies in the solar system eventually coalesced.
• Describe how gravitational collapse is related to the explosive death of massive stars, as discussed in Section 23.2.
  • In Section 23.2, it is explained that the evolution of massive stars culminates in a catastrophic event known as a supernova. This occurs when the core of a massive star undergoes gravitational collapse, leading to the star's complete destruction or the formation of a neutron star or black hole. The immense gravitational forces involved in this process release tremendous amounts of energy, powering the supernova explosion.
• Analyze the connection between gravitational collapse and the discovery of neutron stars, as outlined in Section 23.4.
  • Section 23.4 discusses how the discovery of pulsars, rapidly rotating neutron stars, led to the confirmation of the existence of neutron stars. Neutron stars are the extremely dense, collapsed cores of massive stars that remain after a supernova explosion. The formation of these neutron stars is directly linked to the process of gravitational collapse, where the immense gravity of the star's core overcomes the outward pressure, causing it to collapse into an incredibly dense, compact object.

Related terms

Singularity:

A singularity is a point in spacetime where the gravitational field becomes infinitely strong, and the laws of physics as we know them break down. Gravitational collapse can lead to the formation of a singularity, such as in the case of a black hole.

Supernova:

A supernova is a powerful and luminous stellar explosion that can occur when a massive star undergoes gravitational collapse, leading to the star's complete destruction or the formation of a neutron star or black hole.

Neutron Star:

A neutron star is the extremely dense, collapsed core of a massive star that remains after a supernova explosion. Gravitational collapse is the process that leads to the formation of neutron stars.