AstroGrav Help / Sample Simulations / Abstract Systems / Collapsing Cloud

Collapsing Cloud

Introduction

This simulation shows a cloud of 100 identical objects that are initially stationary.

How it was created

It was created by making a new simulation, and then using the Edit / Add Family... command with the 3D Collapsing Cloud quick setup, edited to a family size of 100, a radius of 5.0e8 m, a luminosity of 1.0e25 W, a mass of 1.0e30 kg, and a semi-major axis bias of 3. The original central object was then removed.

What you can do with it

If you set the system running, you can watch how it evolves, and see how the stars gather together to form larger and larger stars under the influence of their mutual gravity, until there is only one very large star left.

Ideas for further investigation

If you experiment with creating similar systems yourself, varying the family size, radius, mass, and semi-major axis bias, you will find that the stars do not always all collect into one very large star, but form a variety of interesting systems.