Question

Why does the star's core get hotter as the core shrinks?

The fusing elements settle there to liberate their heat.
The core is compressed and compression heats a gas.
The core spins faster and friction heats it.
The statement is false. A shrinking core cools.
None of these choices are correct.

Answer 1

The star's core gets hotter as it shrinks due to compression and an increase in kinetic energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The star's core gets hotter as it shrinks because of the compression caused by gravitational forces. As the core shrinks, the particles in the core become more closely packed together, resulting in an increase in temperature due to the increase in kinetic energy. This increase in temperature can trigger fusion reactions and the release of energy.