Question

a cloud of interstellar gas is rotating. because the gravitational force pulls the gas particles together, the cloud shrinks, and, under the right conditions, a star may be formed. would the angular velocity of the star be less than, greater than, or equal to the angular velocity of the rotating gas?
less than
greater than
equal to
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Explanation:

According to the law of conservation of angular momentum \(L = I\omega\) (where \(I\) is the moment of inertia and \(\omega\) is the angular velocity). When the gas cloud shrinks, the moment of inertia \(I=\sum mr^{2}\) decreases (as the distance \(r\) of the gas particles from the axis of rotation decreases). Since there is no external torque (\(\tau=\frac{dL}{dt} = 0\), angular momentum \(L\) is conserved). So, if \(L = I_{1}\omega_{1}=I_{2}\omega_{2}\) and \(I_{2}\omega_{1}\).

Answer:

Greater than