What makes a star stop contracting?
A) Its magnetic field pushes back against the force of gravity.
B) The dust in it gets packed so tightly that it cannot continue to contract.
C) Its gravity gets too strong for it to continue contracting.
D) It gets hot enough that its pressure builds up, pushing back against the force of gravity.
E) It gets cool enough that it freezes, and the resulting ice is hard enough to push back against gravity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A star stops contracting when it becomes hot enough for nuclear fusion to occur in its core, which increases the internal pressure and counteracts the force of gravity, reaching a state of hydrostatic equilibrium.

What Makes a Star Stop Contracting