How Do Stars Form?

There were previously two models for star formation. One way that was proposed was the accretion of material by star seeds. Material from gas clouds would accumulate on the seed and the star would grow. This model was eventually disproved because of the lack of observational support. The more explainable option is the gravitational collapse theory. In this model, huge clumps of molecular material that break down into smaller cores that form stars. This model supports the common formation of different types of stars, such as brown dwarfs and massive stars. Essentially, the gas clouds and dust form masses due to turbulence within the clouds. These masses then begin to collapse because of their own gravitational attraction. As the system begins to collapse, the center of the material begins to heat up. This area is labeled the protostar. This model suggests that the material breaks into several blobs, which supports the observation of stars forming in pairs or triplets. The material that isn't turned into the star can form asteroids or other planets. The core does attract more surrounding material however. Thus stars are formed through the accumulation of large mass from interstellar clouds of material that break apart and form cores that attract more material.