One might imagine that if energy generation by nuclear fusion were to increase in a star, this would heat the gas, which would in turn increase the rate of nuclear fusion, and so forth in a runaway cycle of increasing temperature. What process acts in a normal main-sequence star to prevent this behavior?

Question

Clyde

Physics

3 February, 20:54

One might imagine that if energy generation by nuclear fusion were to increase in a star, this would heat the gas, which would in turn increase the rate of nuclear fusion, and so forth in a runaway cycle of increasing temperature. What process acts in a normal main-sequence star to prevent this behavior?

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Answers (1)

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Corbin Haas · Answer 1

Increased energy generation will cause a temperature increase which will eventually cause expansion and hence cooling of the gas. This slows down the nuclear fusion.