Eddington's theory of stellar structure

Eddington's theory of stellar structure explains how stars maintain their shape and brightness through a balance between gravity and energy. Gravity pulls inward, trying to collapse the star, while nuclear fusion reactions in the core produce energy and outward pressure. This balance, called hydrostatic equilibrium, keeps the star stable over millions or billions of years. Eddington also described how energy moves from the core outward through radiation and convection, and developed models to understand different types of stars based on their mass and composition. Overall, his work helped reveal the internal processes that make stars shine and stay stable.