How does a galactic merger help explain the transformation from a gas-rich spiral to a gas-poor elliptical?
Answer
The violent interaction drives gas inward, triggering a massive starburst that consumes or ejects the remaining cold reservoir
When large spiral galaxies collide, the violent interactions can trigger intense star formation, using up or ejecting most of the cold gas and dust, resulting in a galaxy that settles into a larger, more elliptical form.
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