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Gravitational compression

 

 
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Gravitational compression
 
 
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Gravitational compression is a theory wherein gravity, acting on the mass
Mass

In physical science, mass refers to the degree of acceleration a body acquires when subject to a force: bodies with greater mass are accelerated less by the same force....
 of an object, compresses it; the compression increases the object's density
Density

The density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. The symbol of density is ....
 and reduces it's volume
Volume

The volume of any solid, liquid, plasma, vacuum or theoretical object is how much three-dimensional space it occupies, often quantified numerically....
.

The Sun
Sun

The Sun , a G V star, is the star at the center of the Solar System. The Earth and other matter orbit the Sun, which by itself accounts for about 98.6% of the Solar System's mass....
 is a good example, wherein the surface of the Sun is thought by some to be pulled downwards by the Sun's own gravity. This may cause it to push down on the layer immediately below, thus increasing the pressure, and therefore the density of that layer.






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Gravitational compression is a theory wherein gravity, acting on the mass
Mass

In physical science, mass refers to the degree of acceleration a body acquires when subject to a force: bodies with greater mass are accelerated less by the same force....
 of an object, compresses it; the compression increases the object's density
Density

The density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. The symbol of density is ....
 and reduces it's volume
Volume

The volume of any solid, liquid, plasma, vacuum or theoretical object is how much three-dimensional space it occupies, often quantified numerically....
.

The Sun
Sun

The Sun , a G V star, is the star at the center of the Solar System. The Earth and other matter orbit the Sun, which by itself accounts for about 98.6% of the Solar System's mass....
 is a good example, wherein the surface of the Sun is thought by some to be pulled downwards by the Sun's own gravity. This may cause it to push down on the layer immediately below, thus increasing the pressure, and therefore the density of that layer. The higher density would allow more mass to be closer to the Sun's center and increase the gravity, leading to a compounding effect. This effect to extend all the way down to the solar core
Solar core

The core of the Sun is considered to extend from the center to about 0.2 solar radius. It is the hottest part of the Solar System. It has a density of up to 150,000 kg/m? and a temperature of close to 15,000,000 kelvin ....
, where the pressure of all the layers above it causes the density to rise dramatically. Without this compounding effect to result in a greater frequency of collisions between particles
Subatomic particle

A subatomic particle is an elementary particle or composite particle particle smaller than an atom. Particle physics and nuclear physics are concerned with the study of these particles, their interactions, and non-atomic QCD matter....
, nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion

In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple like-charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus....
 within the Sun could not occur; or so it is theorized.

The same process can increase the density of other objects in the solar system to lesser degrees. It is conjectured to be responsible for the higher density of Saturn
Saturn

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn, along with Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune, is classified as a gas giant....
's moon Titan
Titan (moon)

Titan or Saturn VI is the largest natural satellite of Saturn, the only moon known to have a dense celestial body atmosphere, and the only object other than Earth for which clear evidence of stable bodies of surface liquid has been found....
 compared with the rest of Saturn's moons (despite Titan being composed of the same material as the other moons!?!). The increase in gravitational compression with size may also explain why Earth
Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun. Earth is the largest of the terrestrial planets in the Solar System in diameter, mass and density. It is also referred to as the World and Wiktionary:Terra.Note that by International Astronomical Union convention, the term "Terra" is used for naming extensive land masses, rather...
 is the densest planet in the Solar System even though Mercury
Mercury (planet)

Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 88 days. The orbit of Mercury has the highest Orbital eccentricity of all the Solar System planets, and it has the smallest axial tilt....
 is composed of much denser materials and has a much larger core relative to its diameter.