What "safety valve" operates in the gas of normal (nondegenerate)stars?
A) If the star gets too big,it will collapse into a black hole.
B) If the stellar gas is suddenly heated,it will expand and cool.
C) If the pressure gets too high,electrons will combine with protons to relieve the pressure.
D) If thermonuclear reactions proceed too quickly,the star will run out of fuel before anything drastic happens.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In normal stars, the safety valve operates through the process of thermal expansion and cooling. If the gas in the star is suddenly heated, it will expand and cool, which will help to relieve the pressure and prevent any catastrophic events. Option A is incorrect because the collapse into a black hole is not a safety valve but rather a potential outcome of a star that has exhausted all its fuel. Option C is incorrect because electron-proton fusion would result in a change in the star's composition, not a relieving of pressure. Option D is incorrect because it refers to the star depleting its fuel, rather than a safety valve mechanism at work.

What "Safety Valve" Operates in the Gas of Normal (Nondegenerate)stars