LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

GRADE 11/12 – PHYSICAL SCIENCE

Name: Date: Rating/Score:

IT ALL STARTED WITH A BIG BANG!

Part I: Stellar Crossword.

Directions: Fill out the crossword puzzle using the clues provided below.

3 4

6 7

10

Across
3 A model of the early universe; It
explains the continuous expansion
of the universe
6 Atoms of the same atomic number
but of different atomic mass
8 The number of protons in an atom
Atomic _________
9 Refers to the elements with proton
number greater than 92
10 The formation of new nuclei in the
early stages of the development of
the universe
Down
1 The element forms when two hydrogen
isotopes fuse
2 The element from space that is pulled by
gravity to turn into a protostar
4 A device used to speed up the protons to
overcome the repulsion between the
protons and the target atomic nuclei;
Particle _________
5 The formation of the capture of free
electrons by the cations in a plasma
7 A one-dimensional point where all
matters and density are concentrated

Specific Week: Week 1 (LAS 1)

Target Competencies: Give evidence for and describe the formation of heavier elements during star formation
and evolution (S11/12PS-IIIa-2); Explain how the concept of atomic number led to the
synthesis of new elements in the laboratory (S11/12PS-IIIb-11)

(This is a Government Property. Not for Sale.)

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS
GRADE 11/12 – PHYSICAL SCIENCE

Part II: Trace the Reaction!

A. Directions: Trace the nuclear reactions happening in an average star during proton-
proton chain reaction by completing the following nuclear equations. Answer the
questions that follow.

1
1
1H + 11H → ___ + +10e + ν 1H + 11H → ___ + +10e + ν

e+ ν e+ ν

2
2
1H + 11H → ___ + γ 1H + 11H → ___ + γ
γ γ

3 3 1 1
2He + 2He → ___ + 1H + 1H

Legend:
Proton Neutron e+ Positron ν Neutrino γ Gamma Ray

Guide Questions:
1. What are the products formed and emitted when two protons fuse?

2. What will be formed when a protium and a deuterium fuse together?

3. Which isotope of helium is the final product of proton-proton chain reaction?

4. How does an electron differ from a positron?

5. Why is proton-proton chain reaction important in stellar formation and evolution?

Specific Week: Week 1 (LAS 1)

Target Competency: Give evidence for and describe the formation of heavier elements during star formation
and evolution (S11/12PS-IIIa-2)

(This is a Government Property. Not for Sale.)

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS
GRADE 11/12 – PHYSICAL SCIENCE

B. Directions: Trace the nuclear reactions happening in a massive star during Carbon-
Nitrogen-Oxygen (CNO) cycle by completing the following nuclear equations. Briefly
discuss what happens in each reaction.

1 12
6C + ___ → 137N + γ
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
2 13
7N → ___ + +10e + ν
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________

4 3 13
___ + 1
1H →
15
8O +γ 6C + 11H → ___ + γ

_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________

5 6 15 12
15
8O → 157N + ___ + ν 7N + 11H → ___ + 6C

_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________

Guide Questions:
1. What is the common end-product of proton-proton chain reaction and CNO cycle?

2. Why is CNO cycle important in stellar formation and evolution?

Specific Week: Week 1 (LAS 1)

Target Competency: Give evidence for and describe the formation of heavier elements during star formation
and evolution (S11/12PS-IIIa-2)

(This is a Government Property. Not for Sale.)

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS
GRADE 11/12 – PHYSICAL SCIENCE

Part III: What’s My Number?

Directions: Complete the table provided below. Answer the questions that follow.

Element/ Atomic Mass Element/ Atomic Mass

Isotope Number Number Isotope Number Number
Hydrogen-1 1 1 Carbon-12 ___ 12
Hydrogen-2 1 ___ Carbon-13 6 13
Hydrogen-3 1 3 Carbon-14 6 ___
Helium-3 2 3 Uranium-235 92 235
Helium-4 2 ___ Uranium-238 92 ___

Guide Questions:
1. Define isotopes in terms of atomic number and mass number.

2. How is atomic number related to the identity of the atom?

3. What might happen if the relationship between atomic number and the identity of the atom
is not established?

EXIT SLIP

How does the lesson change your view about the Big Bang Theory?

Specific Week: Week 1 (LAS 1)

Target Competency: Explain how the concept of atomic number led to the synthesis of new elements in the
laboratory (S11/12PS-IIIb-11)

(This is a Government Property. Not for Sale.)