A Typical Protostar May Be Several Thousand Times More Luminous

question 14

Multiple Choice

A typical protostar may be several thousand times more luminous than the Sun. What is the source of this energy?

• A) Chemical combustion of hydrocarbons
• B) Nuclear fusion in its core
• C) From the release of gravitational energy as the protostar continues to shrink
• D) The ionization of the gas as it heats up
• E) From nearby hot stars or supernovae that have initiated the star formation process

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Definitions:

High School

An educational institution that provides secondary education, typically for students aged 14 to 18, as a bridge between primary education and higher education or the workforce.

Correlation Coefficient

A statistical measure that describes the extent to which two variables are related, indicating both the strength and direction of the relationship.

Dependent Variable

In experimental and observational studies, it is the outcome or variable that researchers are interested in explaining or predicting.

Independent Variable

In an experiment, the variable that is manipulated or altered to observe its effect on the dependent variable.