Degeneracy occurs when
A) magnetic fields inhibit the motion of charged particles in sunspots.
B) solar wind particles ionize atoms in Earth's upper atmosphere.
C) thermonuclear reactions halt the contraction of a protostar.
D) electrons inside a star resist being pushed closer together than a certain limit.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Degeneracy occurs when electrons inside a star resist being pushed closer together than a certain limit, resulting in a pressure that does not depend on temperature. This leads to a limit on the amount of mass a star can have before it collapses under its own gravity, known as the Chandrasekhar limit.

Degeneracy Occurs When