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To: blam
Don't know why this is significant.

The problem with fast condensation is where the kinetic energy of all the original primordial particles in the condensing cloud goes. The usual model says that you have to radiate it away slowly as particles fall into the gravity well and heat things up.

At any given time, you have a near-equilibrium between the pull of gravity on the masses and the outward pressure of the hot gas. This "equilibrium" is dynamic and allows further collapse as the residual heat shines itself away. The usual thinking says that if you somehow force the cloud together faster than it can get rid of the energy in this way, it just blows apart again.

The article doesn't really say why the fast collapse works and how the primordial energy is dissipated. I certainly can't guess.

12 posted on 11/28/2002 7:04:26 PM PST by VadeRetro
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To: VadeRetro
A recent edition of Discover or Sci Am has an article that deals with this very topic, the formation of our star and gas giant planets. If I were at home (instead of on the road for T-Giving) I could look it up for you. Sorry.
19 posted on 11/28/2002 7:57:02 PM PST by MHGinTN
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To: VadeRetro
>....and how the primordial energy is dissipated.<

Carried away by "photon fairies"?

21 posted on 11/28/2002 8:27:07 PM PST by longshadow
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