Answer:
Pressure, magnetic fields, and turbulence.
I know this is three answers, and they are the correct ones however if you can only answer with one, I'd do magnetic fields.
Step-by-step explanation:
One process is the pressure of the gas within the molecular cloud. As the cloud contracts and its density increases, the gas particles within the cloud collide more frequently and exert more pressure on the cloud's walls. This pressure can counteract the force of gravity and prevent the cloud from collapsing further.
Another physical process that can slow down the gravitational collapse of a molecular cloud is the presence of magnetic fields within the cloud. These fields can exert a force on the gas particles within the cloud, causing them to move in a particular direction. This can disrupt the collapse of the cloud and slow it down.
The presence of turbulence within a molecular cloud can also inhibit its gravitational collapse. Turbulence is the random, chaotic motion of gas particles within the cloud, and it can create pockets of high and low density within the cloud. This can make it difficult for the cloud to collapse into a single, dense object.