Stars and Elements Worksheet 

Part 1:
Create an illustration or diagram of the given criteria and checklist items provided in the 
activity instructions. You may choose to draw it freehand and photograph the drawing for 
your instructor, or you may use a computer program to digitally create your model. 
​Part 2: 

1. Why are chemical processes unable to produce the same amount of energy 
flowing out of the sun as nuclear fusion? Chemical processes are unable to 
produce the same amount of energy flowing out of the sun as a nuclear fusion 
because the force between the protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom is 
much higher than the force of attraction between electrons and the positively 
charged nucleus.

2. Why is nuclear fusion able to sustain the life of a star over a long period of time 
without the input of outside energy? Nuclear fusion is able to sustain the life of a 
star over a long period time without the input of outside energy because the 
nuclear fusion, the nuclei of the star masses fuse into each other producing a high 
energy that creates an outward pressure which releases in space as 
electromagnetic radiation that keeps the star alive.

3. Describe how the relative proportion of hydrogen, helium, and heavier elements 
will change as the sun ages. In stars more massive than the sun, after the red 
giant phase it becomes a free for all for creating heavier atoms. As soon as the 
helium in the core runs out the star collapses again, heats up, and starts fusing 
carbon and oxygen into larger atoms. The star collapses and becomes unstable 
then it explodes forming a supernova and neutron star or maybe even the black 
hole.

4. How does energy released from the sun reach Earth? How does the sun's energy 
interact with Earth's atmosphere and hydrosphere? Energy from the sun is 
basically transferred throughout space and through the earth's atmosphere to the 
earth's suface. Since the energy warms up the earth's surface and atmosphere 
some of it becomes heat energy.

5. Every star starts with an initial mass of hydrogen. Each atom of hydrogen has one 
proton and one neutron. How are the total number of protons and neutrons 
conserved as a star ages and undergoes continuous nucleosynthesis? The total 
number of protons and nuetrons conserved as a star ages and undergoes 
continuous nucleosynthesis because eventually hydrogen and helium were pulled 
together into massive clouds of gas in space. Once these clouds became large 
 enough, they were drawn together by gravity with enough force to actually cause 
the atomic nuclei to fuse. The outcome of this fusion process is that the two 
one-proton atoms have now formed a single two-proton atom.

6. What mechanisms or events are needed for a star to make heavier elements than 
iron? After the hydrogen in the star's core is exhausted, the star can fuse helium 
to form progressively heavier elements, carbon and oxygen and so on, until iron 
and nickel are formed. Up to this point, the fusion process releases energy. The 
formation of elements heavier than iron and nickel requires an input of energy.

7. How do scientists use electromagnetic emissions of stars to determine their 

composition, age, and stage of development?stars are caused by the elements 
that emits and absorbs light at a particular wavelength, the composition of the 
star can be determined by it, by studying the spectra wavelengths one can know 
the temperature of it and this temperature determines their age.