Conservation of angular moment slows a cloud's collapse
A) equally in all directions.
B) only when the cloud is not rotating initially.
C) mostly along directions perpendicular to the cloud's axis of rotation.
D) mostly at the poles that lie along the cloud's axis of rotation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Conservation of angular momentum slows the collapse of a rotating cloud mostly along directions perpendicular to the cloud's axis of rotation. This is because the rotation creates a centrifugal force that counteracts the gravitational force pulling the cloud inward, so the collapse is slowed in those perpendicular directions where the centrifugal force is strongest.

Conservation of Angular Moment Slows a Cloud's Collapse