Learning Activity 1 on Grade 11 Physical Science

“Build Me Up”

Objective:
At the of the session, the learners are expected to:
 model the steps that are involved in the formation of heavier elements during star formation and
evolution.

Materials Needed:
Scissors
Colored papers
Pentel pen
Manila paper/cartolina
White chips
Red chips
Glue

Procedure

A hydrogen atom has the most basic nucleus in the universe. It is made up of one proton. In the core of a
star the temperature is high enough (10,000,000 K) to start nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion is the process of
combining nuclei to form new larger nucleus elements.

Step 1:
Two protons fuse together to produce a deuterium nucleus.
Directions:
1. Using colored papers, make 2 red chips and 2 white chips.
2. Draw the given activity sheet in the manila paper/cartolina.
3. Together with your groupmates collect one red chip and one white chip and glue (the red chip
represents proton and white chip represents neutron). Glue the chips on the activity sheet in their
proper location, with each proton representing one hydrogen nucleus.
4. Collect 2 new chips, one red (proton) and one white (neutron). Glue these down on the activity
sheet in the correct location, to represent a deuterium nucleus (the product of the reaction).
Step 2:
The deuterium nucleus produced in step 1 fuses with a proton to produce a Helium - 3 nucleus.

Directions:
1. Using colored papers, make the chips
2. Collect 4 red chips (protons) and 2 white chips (neutrons).
3. On the activity sheet, glue the red and white chips in the proper location, with the two reacting
species consisting of hydrogen (1 proton) and deuterium (one proton, one neutron). After they
combine, their product can be represented by 2 protons and 1 neutron (Helium – 3 nucleus)
Step 3:
Two Helium-3 nuclei will combine to form a Helium-4 nucleus and release 2 protons.
Directions:
1. Using colored papers, make the chips
2. Collect 8 red chips (protons) and 4 white chips (neutrons).
3. On the activity sheet, glue the red and white chips in the proper locations. The two products should
be Helium-3 nuclei, with 2 protons and 1 neutron each. The product of this reaction is a Helium- 4
nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons). The two protons that are released by this reaction can be
represented by the remaining 2 red chips (these are the individual hydrogen nuclei)
 The final product, Helium-4 atom is known as an alpha particle. It is one of the building blocks of larger
elements.
The alpha particle, or Helium-4 nucleus, consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. It has an atomic
number of 2 and an atomic mass of 4 (sum of protons and neutrons). In stars, it is produced during the
third step of hydrogen burning (or proton-proton chain reaction). It is an important particle, because it is
not only the end-point of hydrogen burning, but can produce larger, heavier nuclei during the alpha
process. The alpha process (or alpha fusion) is a method by which stars convert helium nuclei (alpha
particles) into heavier elements.
Because of the number of protons have an even number of protons and neutrons in an alpha
particle, the heavier elements produced by the alpha process have an even number of protons and
neutrons. Elements with odd numbers can subsequently produce by radioactive decay or from other
reactions, such as during a supernova. The basic method by which alpha particles are used to create the
nuclei of heavier elements will be the focus of the next lesson.

QUESTIONS:

1. How did you feel performing the activity?

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2. What materials did you use in the activity?
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3. What was the used of each material in the activity?
White chips -
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Red chips-
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4. What generalizations can you give from the activity?
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