Which of these events can happen when galaxies collide?
Galaxies triple in size
Galaxies disappear
Galaxies destroy their stars
Galaxies merge
All of these events can happen when galaxies collide, but it is important to note that the outcome can vary depending on the specific conditions of the collision.
When galaxies collide, one possible event that can occur is that galaxies merge. This happens when the gravitational forces between the galaxies cause them to come together and combine into a single, larger galaxy. In this process, the stars, gas, and dust from each galaxy mix together and form a new structure.
It is important to note that galaxies disappearing or destroying their stars are not typical outcomes of galaxy collisions. Instead, these events are less likely, as the gravitational interaction between galaxies mainly leads to merging and blending of their contents.
When galaxies collide, various events can occur. Out of the options you provided, two of them can happen: galaxies merging and galaxies destroying their stars. Let me explain further:
1. Galaxies Merge: When two galaxies collide, they can gravitationally interact with each other, causing them to merge and form a new larger galaxy. This merger process can take millions of years due to the immense distances and sizes involved. The gravitational forces between the galaxies can cause their shapes to distort, and if they have similar sizes and masses, they may eventually combine into a single, more massive galaxy.
2. Galaxies Destroy Their Stars: During the collision of galaxies, the gravitational interaction can cause a disruption in the stellar structures of the galaxies involved. This disruption can lead to gravitational disturbances and tidal forces, which can tear apart stars or induce collisions among them. This can result in the destruction of stars within the colliding galaxies.
As for the other two options you mentioned:
3. Galaxies Triple in Size: This is unlikely to occur during a collision. Galaxies typically do not directly or uniformly increase in size as a result of a collision. The expansion of galactic size is mainly influenced by processes like the formation of new stars or the accumulation of matter over long periods of time.
4. Galaxies Disappear: In general, galaxies do not completely disappear as a result of collisions. Although their structures can be significantly altered and their stars disrupted, the matter and energy that comprise the galaxies still exist. However, it is possible for individual stars to be thrown out of the newly merged galaxy or to be destroyed, which could give the appearance of disappearance on a smaller scale.
To summarize, when galaxies collide, they can merge to form a larger galaxy and their stars may be destroyed or disrupted in the process.