PHYSICAL SCIENCE

Learning Module 1

The Universe Alive and Kicking

What is this module about?

Our world is made of elements and combinations of elements called compounds. An element is
a pure substance made of atoms that are all of the same type. At present, 116 elements are
known, and only about 90 of these occur naturally.
During the formation of the universe some 14 billion years ago in the so-called ‘Big Bang’, only the lightest
elements were formed – hydrogen and helium along with trace amounts of lithium and beryllium. As the cloud
of cosmic dust and gases from the Big Bang cooled, stars formed, and these then grouped together to form
galaxies.
The other 86 elements found in nature were created in nuclear reactions in these stars and in huge stellar
explosions known as supernovae.
Lesson 1: Elements during the Big Bang and during stellar evolution
Lesson 2: Concept of Atomic Number

What do you need to learn?

At the end of this module, you will able to:
• give evidence for and describe the formation of heavier elements during star formation and
evolution (S11/12PS-IIIa-1); and
• explain how the concept of atomic number led to the synthesis of new elements in the
laboratory. ( DepEd – MELC )

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 Pre-test

Directions: Read the following questions carefully. Write only the letter of the correct answer.
1. Which of the following elements is formed when hydrogen atoms are fused?
a. Carbon c. Iodine
b. Helium d. Phosphorus
2. Which energy is formed by various nuclear reactions such as ultraviolet light, x-rays, visible light,
infrared rays, microwaves, and radio waves?
a. Chemical energy c. Radiant energy
b. Nuclear energy d. Solar energy
3. Universe is a vast number of galaxies. How old is the universe?
a. 12.8 million years c. 12.8 billion years
b. 13.8 million years d. 13.8 billion years
4. How did Hubble describe the galaxy?
a. It is expanding. c. It is moving toward us.
b. It is moving away from us. d. It is standing still.
5. Which of the following theory explains the formation of the solar system?
a. Big Bang theory c. Nebular theory
b. Big Nebulan theory d. Nebulis theory
6. How were the planets of the solar system formed?
a. The center of the gas cloud cooled.
b. Planetesimals collide with one another.
c. Planetesimals flattened into a rotating disk.
d. The sun absorbed extra gas and dust from the solar system.
7. How much of the nebula matter became the Sun?
a. 33% c. 77%
b. 66% d. 99%
8. How long did it take the solar system to form?
a. 4.6 million years ago
b. 50 million years ago
c. 4.6 billion years ago
d. 13 billion years ago
9. Which bodies in space are formed from a cloud of gas and dust?
a. Nebula
b. Photosphere
c. Solar flare
d. Sunspot
10. Which of the following refers to a small body from which a planet originated in the early stages of
development of the solar system?
a. Gas giant
b. Inertia
c. Planetesimal
d. Terrestrial planet

How’s your pre-test? Refer to the Answer Key on the last page of this
module to check your answers.
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 Lesson 1: Elements during the Big Bang and Stellar
Evolution
Copy the Learning Activity Sheet on a separate paper.

LAS #1.1
Activity Title: Elements during the Big Bang and Stellar Evolution
Learning Target: The learners will be able to give evidence for and describe the formation of heavier
elements during star formation and evolution.
Values/Graduate Attribute: The learners will become critical thinkers and appreciate the beauty of
God’s creation.
References: DepEd. Project EASE/Physical Science by Karen S. Santiago and Angelina A, Silverio
Page(s): 4-10
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I. CONCEPT NOTES:
Elements around us is matter, which is composed of a varying combination of any of the114 elements
identified to be present in the universe, including Earth. These elements are later found to be composed of
atoms – the building blocks of matter.

Three Cosmic Phase through which specific groups of elements were formed
1) Big Bang or Primordial Nucleosynthesis – is the origin of the “light” elements ( H, He, and Li ). It
also explains how the elements were initially formed.The formation of different elements involved many
nuclear reactions, including fusion, fission, and radioactive decay.
Examples:
3
He + 2H 4
He + 1p
2 1 2 1
( see p. 8 )
2) Stellar Nucleosynthesis – is the origin and production of the “heavy” elements.
- is formed the elements from Be to Fe.
Examples:
4
He + 4He 8
Be
2 2 4
( see p. 9)

3) Stellar explosion, or Supernova – is formed the elements heavier than Fe.

- released a huge amount of nuclear energy and produced
through neutron capture and radioactive decay.
Examples:
62
Ni + 1 n 63
Ni ( neutron capture)
28 0 28
56
Fe + 1n 57
Fe
26 0 26
( see p. 10)

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 Nucleosynthesis - is the process that creates new atomic nucleus from preexisting nucleons, which is proton
neutrons.

Primordial or Big Bang Nucleosynthesis – is the process of producing the “light elements” shortly after
the Big Bang.

The energy and temperature of the universe are extremely high to cause the neutrons and protons
to combine and form certain species of atomic nuclei in a process called nuclear fusion.

Nuclear Fusion – is the process of light elements- Hydrogen (H), Helium (He), and small amounts of
lithium (Li) and beryllium (Be) were formed. The isotopes produced during the big bang nucleosynthesis
were H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, L-7.

II. EXERCISES:
Directions: See page 20A on your reference book . Copy and answer numbers 1-5.

Lesson 2: Concept of Atomic Number

Copy the Learning Activity Sheet on a separate paper.

LAS #1.2
Activity Title: Concept of Atomic Number
Learning Target: The learners will be able to explain how the concept of atomic number led to the
synthesis of new elements in the laboratory.
Values/Graduate Attribute: The learners will become critical thinker, appreciate the beauty of God’s
creation.
References: DepEd. Project EASE/Physical Science by Karen S. Santiago and Angelina A, Silverio
Page(s): 11-20
______________________________________________________________________________________

I. CONCEPT NOTES:
Henry Gwyn-Jeffrey Moseley – discovered a fundamental quantity of elements, which was later referred
to as an atomic number. After this discovery, chemists turned to use the atomic number as the fundamental
basis of arranging the periodic table.

When the elements were arranged according to their atomic numbers, there were four gaps in the table, which
corresponds to the atomic numbers 43, 61, 85, and 87. These elements were later synthesized in the
laboratory using particle accelerators and nuclear transmutation.

Atomic Number – serves as the identity of an atom; given the symbol Z. It refers to the number of protons
in the nucleus of an element.
- It indicates the number of the electron in nuetral form.

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 Example
6 C therefore 6 - is the atomic number
-number of protons
- number of electrons

A
X A – atomic mass X – represents element
Z Z - atomic number

Atomic Mass – has the symbol A. It is the total number of neutrons and protons present in the nucleus of an
atom of an element.
Example:
Atomic mass = number of protons + number of neutrons
= atomic number +number of neutrons

Isotopes - are atoms that have the same atomic number but different atomic masses.

II. EXERCISE:
Directions: Answer the following questions briefly.
1. What do atoms and subatomic particles look like?
2. What are the characteristics of the three subatomic particles?
3. Why are atomic numbers significant in the study of elements?

Reflective Journal
Write your reflection about what you have learned from this module.

Mini Task
Research about the nuclear binding energy and then explain why nuclear fusion
reactions in massive stars stop in iron through the concept of binding energy. Your
output will be graded according to the criteria provided below.

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 Post-Test
Directions: Read the following questions carefully. Write only the letter of the correct
answer.

1. How does the sun produce energy?

a. by absorbing heat from space
b. by burning gas
c. by Nuclear Fission
d. by Nuclear Fusion
2. Which is the main source of fuel when a star is in the main sequence?
a. electromagnetic radiation
b. helium burning
c. hydrogen-burning
d. oxygen-burning
3. When is a star born?
a. when nuclear fusion starts
b. when x rays get emitted
c. when gas and dust starts to contract
d. when the nebula starts spinning
4. Which of the following refers to the formation of elements?
a. nuclear fission
b. nucleotides
c. nucleosynthesis
d. Synthogenesis
5. Which is the main factor that determines how a star will end its life?
a. distance from Earth
b. luminosity
c. mass
d. temperature
6. Which is another way to describe a synthesis reaction?
a. Combination
b. Decomposition
c. Extraction
d. Isolation
7. Which chemical reaction forms Carbon Dioxide and Water?
a. Combustion
b. Decomposition
c. Single Replacement
d. Synthesis

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8. If the atomic number of Sodium is 11, what will be its number of electron ?
a. 0
b. 11
c. 12
d. 22
9. Which of the following is NOT an indication of a chemical reaction?
a. Formation of a precipitate
b. Formation of a gas (bubbling)
c. Heat is given off
d. Mixing two chemicals together
10. Which type of reaction is 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO?
a. Decomposition
b. Double Replacement
c. Single Replacement
d. Synthesis

CRITICAL THINKING
Directions: Answer the following items. Use additional sheets of paper if necessary.
1. How did early philosophers view atoms and elements? How do their views differ from one present-day
concepts of the composition of matter?

2. Do you think the processes in the cosmic formation of elements are reproducible in the laboratory? Why?
How about those involved in the laboratory synthesis of elements, do you think they naturally occur in the
universe? Justify your answer.

3. How do elements form? Explain this based on what you have learned in this lesson

My Learning Experience
We want to hear your thoughts! Answer the following questions. Write your answers on the same paper where
you have written your answers for the Post-Test.
1. What have you learned from this module?
2. What activities did you find enjoyable and easy?
3. What difficulties did you encounter in accomplishing this module?

Congratulations for finishing this module! Always take care

and God bless you.

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 Answer key:

Pretest
1. B
2. C
3. D
4. B
5. C
6. B
7. D
8. C
9. A
10. C

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by any means, without the prior written permission of the author.