STELLAR

EVOLUTION
• Nebula
• Star
• Red Giant
• Red Dwarf
• White Dwarf
• Supernova
• Neutron Star
• Black Hole
STELLAR EVOLUTION

Is a process in which a star

changes over the course of time,
depending on the mass of the
star.
Stars from inside relatively dense
(heavy) concentrations of interstellar gas
and dust known as molecular clouds.
These regions are extremely cold.

At these temperatures, gases become

molecular meaning atoms bind together.
• Stars are formed in giant clouds of
dust and gas, and progresses through
their normal life as balls of gas
heated by thermonuclear reactions
in their cores. Depending on their
mass, they reach the end of the
evolution as white dwarf, neutron
star or black hole
Thermonuclear- Nuclear reactions that
occur only at very high temperatures

The milky way galaxy contains several

hundred billion stars of all ages, sizes and
masses.

Typical star (Sun) radiated small amounts of

X-rays continuously and larger bursts of X-
rays during a Solar flare
Solar Flare- a sudden, rapid and intense
variation in brightness in seen on the sun.

Occurs when magnetic energy that has built

up in the solar atmosphere is suddenly
released.
EVIDENCES OF THE
FORMATION OF
LIGHT ELEMENTS
IN THE BIG BANG
THEORY
According to the Big bang Theory, the
temperatures in the early universe is so high that
the fusion reactions could take place.
This resulted in the formation of the light
elements.

Light elements:
Hydrogen, Deuterium, Helium(two isotopes),
Lithium and trace amounts of Beryllium.

Fusion: The process or result of joining two or more

things to form a single entity.
These light elements are produced during the Big
bang nucleosynthesis.

Nucleosynthesis- the cosmic formation of

atoms more complex than the hydrogen atom.

According to the big bang theory, the

temperatures in the early universe is so high that
the fusion reactions could take place.
Nuclear Fusion- is a reaction in which two or more
atomic nuclei come close enough to form one or more
different atomic nuclei.

Nuclear fusion in stars converts Hydrogen into helium

in all stars. In stars less massive than the sun, converts
Helium to carbon and oxygen takes place in
successive stages of stellar evolution. In every
massive stars, the reaction chain continues to produce
elements like silicon up to iron
Elements higher than Iron cannot be
formed through fusion as one has to
supply energy for the reactions to take
place leading to the formation of heavy
elements.
 FORMATION
and EVIDENCE
of HEAVY
ELEMENTS
• The Elements formed in these stages range
from Oxygen through Iron. During a
Supernova, the star releases a very large
amount of energy as well as neutrons,
which allows elements heavier than Iron,
such as Uranium and Gold to be produced.

• In the supernova explosion of these

elements are expelled out into space.
 Stellar evolution

Light elements Heavy elements

formation formation