All Questions
Tagged with gas-giants degenerate-matter
3
questions
3
votes
1
answer
350
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Are gas giants supported by thermal pressure?
I've heard gas giants are supported because there is an equilibrium between thermal pressure and gravity. That is, if Jupiter were to suddenly begin compressing, temperatures would increase to the ...
- 8,135
7
votes
3
answers
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Why is the core of a gas giant supported by electron degeneracy pressure instead of nuclear fusion?
After a Sun-sized protostar forms, its core will become denser over time due to radiation. The core eventually gets dense and hot enough for hydrogen fusion to take place. In the late phases of the ...
- 8,135
2
votes
2
answers
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What would happen to a gas planet if its core mass goes beyond the Chandrasekhar limit?
Hypothetically, let's say we had a gas giant that continued to accrete mass. I've heard that the cores of gas giants are electron degenerate. So if the planet continued to accrete mass and the core ...
- 8,135