Final answer:
Most stars are not destroyed during galaxy collisions because of the vast distances between them, which prevent significant direct interactions. Stars might have their orbits altered, but their existence remains largely unaffected in the vast celestial spaces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason most stars are not destroyed in a galaxy collision is that galaxies contain vast distances between individual stars. When galaxies collide, the stars within them typically pass by each other with minimal interaction, similar to smoke passing through a screen door. This is in contrast to the common misconception that stars would crash into one another during such a catastrophic event. The vast distances between stars prevent significant interactions which is why option C) 'The vast distances between stars prevent significant interactions' is the correct answer. Although the galaxies' shapes may change and starburst events may occur, triggering a surge of star formation, the stars remain largely unaffected by direct collisions. However, their orbits might change, which can alter the overall appearance of the galaxies involved in the collision. The complex process of galaxy collisions and the resulting unique shapes and structures can take hundreds of millions of years and are of great interest to astronomers studying the evolution of galaxies.