What happens when an interstellar cloud fragment shrinks?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As an interstellar cloud fragment shrinks, its density, temperature, and pressure all rise. This is because the shrinking of the fragment causes gravitational forces to increase, which leads to more collisions between particles and an overall increase in energy and pressure. As the density increases, the cloud becomes more opaque, making it harder to see through. Therefore, all of the above are correct. As the interstellar cloud fragment shrinks, its density, temperature, and pressure all increase. As the density increases, the cloud fragment becomes opaque. The increasing pressure and temperature eventually trigger the onset of nuclear fusion, leading to the formation of a protostar.

What Happens When an Interstellar Cloud Fragment Shrinks