Question

Which of the following statements about degeneracy pressure is not true?A)Degeneracy pressure can halt gravitational contraction of a star even when no fusion is occurring in the core.B)Degeneracy pressure keeps any protostar less than 0.08 solar mass from becoming a true, hydrogen-fusing star.C)Degeneracy pressure varies with the temperature of the star.D)Degeneracy pressure is a consequence of the laws of quantum mechanics.

Answer 1

Answer: C)Degeneracy pressure varies with the temperature of the star.

Explanation:

Pauli exclusion principle states that no two electrons can occupy same states. Thus, the gravitational collapse of a massive star is halted due to degeneracy pressure where at high temperature, the electrons occupy higher energy levels and this pressure balances the gravitational contraction. This degeneracy pressure does not depend on the temperature. It depends on the density of the fermions only.