Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region v
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF SORSOGON
GUBAT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Gubat, Sorsogon

PHYSICAL SCIENCE 11 (Quarter 3)

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET (LAS) No. 1

Name of the Student: _____________________________ Date: ___________________

Grade Level & Section: ___________________________

I. INTRODUCTION:
In the previous grade level, you learned the different theories about the origin of the
universe. One of the most accepted theories on the origin of the universe is the Big
Bang Theory. In this lesson, you will know deeper the Big Bang Theory and how the
heavier elements formed during star formation and evolution.

II. MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY (MELC):

 Give evidence for and describe the formation of heavier elements during star
formation and evolution. (S11/12PS-IIIa-2)
III. OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the learners should be able to:
1. give the pieces of evidence for the formation of heavier elements during star
formation and evolution; and
2. describe the formation of heavier elements during star formation and
evolution.
IV. ACTIVITIES:
A. ELICIT/ ENGAGE:
Instruction: Given the composition of each nucleus, complete the nucleosynthesis
reactions below:
4
D = 1 p+, 1 n He = 2 p+, 2 n
7
T = 1 p+, 2 n Be = 4 p+, 3 n
3 7
He = 2 p+, 1 n Li = 3 p+, 4 n

Example: p+ + n ____+ γ, Answer: p+ + n _D_+ γ

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a. He + D ____ + p+ c. ______+ D T + p+
7 7
b. Li + ____ 2 4He d. _____ + ____ Be + γ

B. EXPLORE:
Instruction: Below are jumbled words about the formation of heavier elements
during star formation and evolution. Arrange the letters and match it to its
description.
CHOICES
1. RALLTES LEONUCTHESYNSIS f. PLETRI HAPAL CESSPRO
2. TOSTARPRO g. PAHAL DERLAD
3. NIAM CENEUQES TRAS h. ONC CLECY
4. DER ANTGI i. WOLS UTRONNE TURECAP PORSCES

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 5. NOVAPERSU j. BIPAR PORSSCE
1. It is the process by which elements are created within stars by combining
the protons and neutrons together from the nuclei of lighter elements.
2. It is a stellar core formed when the fragments of collapsed molecular cloud
contract.
3. It is formed when gravitational equilibrium is reached during the hydrogen
fusion in a protostar.
4. It is a star that has used up its hydrogen supply in the core and switched into
the thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen in the shell surrounding the core.
5. It is a star that blows apart and releases a large amount of energy.
6. The is a set of nuclear fusion reactions by which three helium-4 (He-4) nuclei
(alpha particles) are transformed into carbon.
7. This process is likely to involve “carbon burning” to produces oxygen, followed
by neon, magnesium, silicon, sulfur, argon, calcium, titanium, chromium and
iron.
8. A sequence of thermonuclear reactions that provides most of the energy
radiated by the hotter stars. It is only a minor source of energy for the Sun and
does not operate at all in very cool stars.
9. This process is similar to the alpha-process, except that a neutron, instead of a
proton, is captured at each stage. It can produce elements up to bismuth-209
and polonium-210.
10. This process is occurring in supernova core collapse and possibly when a
neutron star merges with a black hole in a binary system. It can synthesize
atomic nuclei up to Plutonium-244.

C. EXPLAIN/ ELABORATE:
STELLAR NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

Heavy elements were formed only billions of years after the formation of stars. The
density inside a star is great enough to sustain fusion for extended time periods required to
synthesize heavy elements. The density inside a star is great enough to sustain fusion for
extended time periods required to synthesize heavy elements. Stars are hot and dense
enough to burn hydrogen-1 (1H) to helium-4 (4He). The formation of heavy elements by
fusion of lighter nuclei in the interior of stars is called “stellar nucleosynthesis”.
There are many nuclear synthetic pathways or nuclear fusions to produce heavy elements:
 Triple-alpha Process

The is a set of nuclear fusion

reactions by which three helium-4
(He-4) nuclei (alpha particles) are transformed into carbon.

A two-stage process, starting with the creation of a

beryllium-8 nucleus from two alpha particles. This then
combines with a third alpha particle to form carbon-12. To
create the beryllium-8 nucleus, requires 93.7 keV of energy
to be put in, however, the second stage releases +7.367 MeV,
so the reaction releases much more energy than it absorbs,
overall.

 The Alpha Ladder

Once carbon has been created in a star’s interior, it
can then continue to fuse with further helium nuclei
(protons), to produce progressively heavier elements.
The first stage produces oxygen, followed by neon,
magnesium, silicon, sulfur, argon, calcium, titanium,
chromium and iron. This is known as the ‘alpha ladder’,

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with energy released as a photon at each stage. The nucleus of an iron atom has a higher
binding energy than the nucleus of any other element. Since an iron nucleus is the most
tightly bound, it is impossible to release energy by further fusion reactions to produce
heavier elements.

 CNO Cycle
Carbon-Nitrogen-Oxygen Cycle
A sequence of thermonuclear reactions that provides
most of the energy radiated by the hotter stars. It is only a
minor source of energy for the Sun and does not operate at all
in very cool stars.
Four hydrogen nuclei are in effect converted into one helium
nucleus, a fraction of the mass being released as energy
(according to the law of mass–energy equivalence, E = mc2).

A carbon-12 (12C) nucleus

captures a hydrogen nucleus (1H, a proton) to
form a nucleus of nitrogen-13 (13N);
a gamma ray (γ) is emitted in the process. The
nitrogen-13 nucleus emits a
positive electron (positro n, e+) and becomes carbon-
13 (13C). This nucleus captures another proton,
becomes nitrogen-14 (14N), and emits another
gamma ray. The nitrogen-14 captures a
proton to form oxygen-15 (15O); the resulting nucleus
ejects a positron as above and is thereby
transformed to nitrogen- 15 (15N). Eventually, the
nitrogen-15 nucleus captures a fast-moving
proton and breaks down into a carbon-12 nucleus
plus a helium nucleus (alpha particle) of mass 4 (4He).

 The S-Process
The s-process or slow-neutron-capture-process is like the alpha-process, except that a
neutron, instead of a proton, is captured at each stage. A neutron can then emit an electron
(beta-minus decay) to create a proton, which moves the nucleus up the periodic table of
elements. This is part of the red-giant stage late in the lives of stars with masses between
around 0.6 to 10 times the mass of the Sun. The s-process can produce elements up to
bismuth-209 and polonium-210.

 Supernovae and the R-Process

The r-process is a ‘rapid’ version of the s-process, occurring in supernova core collapse and
possibly when a neutron star merges with a black hole in a binary system. The r-process
can synthesize atomic nuclei up to plutonium-244.

PIECES OF EVIDENCE
The discovery of the interstellar medium of gas and dust during the early part of the
2oth century provided a crucial piece of evidence to support the star formation theory.
Other pieces of evidence come from 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 (IR) is detected from different stages of star
formation. For instance, astronomers measure the IR released by a protostar and compare
it to the IR from a nearby area with zero extinction.
Extinction in astronomy means the absorption and scattering of electromagnetic
radiation by gases and dust particles between an emitting astronomical object and an
observer.

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 The IR measurements are then used to approximate the energy, temperature, and
pressure in the protostar.

D. EVALUATE
Directions: Answer the following questions.

1. What are the pieces of evidence for the formation of heavier elements during star
formation and evolution?
2. How do heavier elements form during stellar nucleosynthesis?

V. ANSWER KEY:

ELICIT/ ENGAGE
a. 4He b. p+ c. n d. 3He, 4He

EXPLORE
1. STELLAR NUCLEOSYNTHESIS 6. TRIPLE ALPHA PROCESS
2. PROTOSTAR 7. ALPHA LADDER
3. MAIN SEQUENCE STAR 8. CNO CYCLE
4. RED GIANT 9. SLOW NEUTRON CAPTURE PROCESS
5. SUPERNOVA 10. RAPID PROCESS

EVALUATE
1.
 The discovery of the interstellar medium of gas and dust during the early part of the
2oth century provided a crucial piece of evidence to support the star formation
theory.
 Detected Infrared Radiation (IR) from different stages of star formation.
 Study of different stages of formation happening in different areas in space and
piecing them together to form a clearer picture.
2. Answers may vary

VI. REFERENCES:
Commission on Higher Education, Teaching Guide for Senior High School Physical
Science

Physical Science Quarter 1 Self Learning Module 1 Week 1

Borb, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=691758

Borb, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=691758

Prepared by:
MARY ROSE G. ENCINARES HOMER E. EREÑO

SHEILA P. DIVINAGRACIA JOEBERT E. ESCULTURA

GRACE E. ESTAYAN JOHN ARNOLD B. ESTIPONA

REGINA JANE C. FERRERAS RONA E. AGUILA

Reviewed by:

JENNIFER CORDINETE LEO J. HUBILLA JOAN E. HAPA

T- III MT-I MT- I

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