What is Gravitational collapse?
'''Gravitational collapse''' is a process where an object in space, like a [[star]] or cloud of [[gas]], shrinks down because of its own very strong gravity. This [[gravity]] pulls everything closer to its center. This plays a very important role in our [[universe]]. For example, you might have a cloud of things like stars or galaxies in space all over the place. But soon, gravity starts to bring everything together. This process forms all kinds of structures, like [[galaxy cluster]]s, [[star cluster]]s, [[star]]s, and even [[planet]]s.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Applied geothermics|last=Eppelbaum|first=Lev Vilen|last2=Eppelbaum|first2=Lev|last3=Kutasov|first3=I. M.|last4=Pilchin|first4=Arkady|date=2013|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-642-34023-9|series=Lecture notes in earth system sciences|location=Berlin}}</ref> [[File:Core_collapse_scenario.svg|thumb|Gravitational collapse of a massive star]] For example, a star is born when a huge cloud of [[interstellar gas]] slowly comes together because of gravity. As this continues to happen, the [[pressure]] and [[temperature]] inside the cloud increases. Soon, the temperature and pressure becomes so much that they [[Nuclear fusion|thermonuclear fusion]] starts. When fusion starts, the star releases light and heat, and the energy it makes pushes outward, trying to stop gravity from crushing the star. This keeps the star stable. But eventually, the star would run out of fuel and gravity will win. It will do another gravitational collapse and turn into something new. Depending on how heavy the star was, it could become a [[white dwarf]], [[neutron star]], or, if it was heavy enough, a [[black hole]]. So, gravitational collapse is a fundamental process in the [[universe]] that help creates the structures we see, including the stars that light up our night sky. ==References== {{Reflist}} [[Category:Astronomy]]