Colegio de San Gabriel Arcangel

PACUCOA Accredited – Level 1 Status

BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
City of San Jose del Monte,Bulacan

LEARNING ACTIVITY# 1
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Subject : ________________________ Date : _________________________
Type of Activity (Check or choose from below)
Concept Notes Laboratory Report Formal Theme Others:
Skills: Exercise / Drill Illustration Informal Theme

Activity Title : Formation of Heavier Elements: Stellar Nucleosynthesis

Learning Target :I can describe and give evidence for the formation of heavier
elements .
Refereces :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG5Hahz1T_M&t=75s
:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzMwg8S_OwM
Introduction:
How were elements heavier than berylium formed? Elements heavier than
berylium are formed through stellar nucleosynthesis. Stellar nucleosynthesis is the
process by which elements are formed within stars. The abundances of these elements
are formed within stars. The abundances of these elements change as the stars evolve.

Evolution of the Stars

The star formation theory proposes that stars form due to collapse of the dense
regions of a molecular cloud. As the cloud collapses, the fragments contract to form a
stellar core called protostar. Due to strong gravitational force, the protostar contract it’s
temperature increases. When the core temperature reaches about 10 million Kelvin,
nuclear region begin. The reaction releases positron and neutrinos which increase
pressure and stop contraction. When the contraction stops, the gravitational equilibrium
is reached, and the protostar has become a main sequence star. In the core of the main
sequence star, hydrogen is fused into helium via the proton-proton chain. When most of
the hydrogen in the core is fused into helium, fusion stops, and the pressure in the core
decreases. Gravity squeezes the star to a point that helium and hydrogen burning
occur. Helium is converted to carbon in the core while hydrogen is converted to helium
in the shell surrounding the core. The star has become a red giant. When majority of
the helium in the core has been converted to carbon, then the rate of fusion decreases.
Gravity gain squeezes the star. In a low mass star less (with mass less than twice the
Sun’s mass), there is not enough mass for a carbon to fusion to occur. The star’s fuel is
depleted, and over time, the outer material of the star blown off into space. The only
thing that remains is the hot and inert carbon core. The star becomes a white dwarf.
However, the fate of a massive star is different. A massive star has enough mass such
as the temperature and pressure increase to a point where carbon fusion can occur.
The star goes through a series of stages where heavier elements are fused in the core
and in the shells around the core. The element oxygen is formed from carbon fusion:,
neon from oxygen fusion; magnesium from neon fusion: silicon from magnesium fusion;
and iron from silicon fusion, The star becomes a multiple-shell red giant.
The fusion of element continues until iron is formed by silicon fusion. Elements
lighter than iron can be fused because when two of these elements combine, they
produce a nucleus with a mass lower than the sum of their masses. The missing mass
is released as energy. Therefore the fusion of elements lighter than iron releases
energy. However, this does not happen to iron nuclei. Rather than releasing energy, the
fusion of two iron can be produced in a massive star, but no elements heavier than iron
produced. When the core can no longer produce energy to resist gravity, the star is
doomed. Gravity squeezes the core until the star explodes and releases a large amount
of energy. The star explosion is called a supernova.
Pieces of Evidence:
- The discovery of the interstellar medium of gas and dust-material which fills the space
between star
- The study of different stages of formation happening in different areas in space and
piecing them together to form a clearer picture
- Energy in the form of Infrared radiation is detected from different stages of star
formation.

Activity:
1. Research about the nuclear binding energy and then, explain why the nuclear fusion
reactions in massive stars stop in iron through the concept of binding energy.
2. How are elements heavier than iron formed?