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Nydus Open Learning

Astrophysics

Central conditions, the virial theorem and polytropes

Scaling hydrostatic equilibrium gives P_c ~ G M^2 / R^4 and T_c ~ G M mu m_H / k R; the virial theorem ties thermal to gravitational energy, so contracting stars heat; and polytropes give the Sun's central pressure within a factor of two.

About 30 minutes8 activities Paper packet