When a molecular cloud collapses to form individual stars within a galaxy, which phenomenon determines stellar masses?

💡 Explanation

Jeans instability is the mechanism. A fragment collapses because its internal pressure is not strong enough to prevent gravitational collapse. Therefore, fragmentation stops when the collapsing regions becomes dense enough; rather than pressure maintaining equilibrium.

• Which outcome occurs when gravity warps spacetime near a black hole?
• Which phenomenon results in scanning tunneling microscopy when electrons encounter a vacuum gap?
• Which consequence results when unpolarized calibration light encounters stressed polymer?
• Which change results when a viscous fluid in a pipe exceeds a critical Reynolds Number?
• Which outcome occurs when humidity reaches 100% during adiabatic expansion in an industrial cloud chamber?
• Which outcome occurs when concentrated sulfuric acid reacts with sodium chloride?