Which mechanism supports a white dwarf against gravitational collapse?
Answer
Electron degeneracy pressure
White dwarfs are the remnants of low-to-medium mass stars. Because they no longer perform nuclear fusion to generate heat, they require another mechanism to resist the inward pull of gravity. Electron degeneracy pressure arises from the Pauli Exclusion Principle, which dictates that electrons cannot occupy the same quantum state simultaneously, creating an outward force that stabilizes the star at a high density.
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