FORMATION OF HEAVIER ELEMENTS

DURING STAR FORMATION AND

EVOLUTION
RETCHIE JOY B. PISANA
Master Teacher I
REVIEW:
• Q1: What is the role of nuclear fusion in
the formation of heavier elements during
star evolution?
REVIEW:
1. Nuclear fusion is the process by which
lighter elements in a star's core are fused
together under extreme heat and pressure
to form heavier elements, including carbon,
oxygen, and even elements as heavy as iron
and beyond.
REVIEW:
Q2: How do massive stars contribute to the
synthesis of heavy elements in the
universe?
REVIEW:
2. Massive stars, due to their higher
temperatures and pressures, are capable of
fusing elements more rapidly, leading to the
creation of heavier elements. When these
stars undergo supernova explosions, they
disperse these newly synthesized elements
into space.
REVIEW:
Q3: What is the significance of
supernovae in the formation of the
heaviest elements?
REVIEW:
3. Supernovae, the explosive deaths of
massive stars, are the crucibles where
elements heavier than iron, such as
gold, silver, and uranium, are formed.
The extreme conditions within
supernovae allow for the fusion of
atomic nuclei into these complex
elements, enriching the cosmos with
their presence.
OBJECTIVE/S:
• Give evidence and describe the
formation of heavier elements during
star formation and evolution
gIVE
Stages of Formation of Heavier Elements during Star
Formation and Evolution
• The process of star formation and evolution is a cosmic drama
that shapes the elements crucial for life and matter. Let's
explore the stages leading to the creation of these intricate
cosmic building blocks:
1. Nebula and Protostar Formation: In dense molecular clouds,
dust and gas gather due to gravity, forming a dense core or
nebula. The core heats up and spins, giving rise to a protostar
within a spinning disk.
Stages of Formation of Heavier Elements during Star
Formation and Evolution
2. Core Ignition and Hydrogen Fusion: As matter accumulates,
core temperature and pressure soar. At around 15 million degrees
Celsius, hydrogen nuclei fuse into helium in a fiery furnace,
marking a star's birth.

3. Main Sequence Phase: During a star's main sequence phase,

equilibrium between nuclear fusion's outward pressure and
gravity's inward force sustains a stable period of energy
generation.
Stages of Formation of Heavier Elements during Star
Formation and Evolution
4. Helium Fusion and Element Synthesis: As hydrogen
depletes, gravity contracts the core again. In high-mass stars,
helium fusion produces heavier elements like carbon and oxygen,
essential for planets and life.

5. Red Giant or Supergiant Phase: Helium fusion causes the

core to expand, turning the star into a red giant or supergiant.
Repeated cycles of expansion and contraction contribute to
heavier element production.
Stages of Formation of Heavier Elements during Star
Formation and Evolution
6. Supernova and Stellar Death: Massive stars culminate in
supernovae, explosively fusing elements heavier than iron. Gold,
silver, and uranium are formed in this cataclysmic event.

7. Element Dispersal and New Star Formation: Supernova

debris mingles with interstellar matter, becoming the raw
materials for new stars. This cycle of birth, evolution, and death
continues to enrich the universe.
QUESTIONS:
1.What is the primary source of energy in
stars?
QUESTIONS:
1. Nuclear fusion.
QUESTIONS:
2. How do stars produce elements heavier
than hydrogen and helium?
QUESTIONS:
2. How do stars produce elements heavier
than hydrogen and helium?
-Through nuclear reactions that occur in
their cores.
QUESTIONS:
3. Name a heavy element that can be
formed through stellar nucleosynthesis.
QUESTIONS:
3. Name a heavy element that can be
formed through stellar nucleosynthesis.
Answer: Carbon, oxygen, iron, etc.
QUESTIONS:
1.How does a star's mass influence its
journey through the stages of element
formation?
QUESTIONS:
1.How does a star's mass influence its
journey through the stages of element
formation?
1.Answer: Higher-mass stars can create
heavier elements due to higher core
temperatures and pressures.
QUESTIONS:
2. Imagine a universe without supernovae.
How might this impact the abundance of
heavy elements?
QUESTIONS:
2. Imagine a universe without supernovae.
How might this impact the abundance of
heavy elements?
-Heavy elements produced in supernovae
wouldn't be available, affecting the
formation of planets and life.
QUESTIONS:
3. Discuss the potential implications of
discovering a star that bypasses certain
evolutionary stages. What could this
teach us?
QUESTIONS:
3. Discuss the potential implications of
discovering a star that bypasses certain
evolutionary stages. What could this
teach us?
-Such a discovery could challenge our
understanding of stellar evolution and
provide insights into alternative
pathways of element creation.
EVALUATION:
1. What process is primarily
responsible for the formation of heavier
elements during a star's life cycle?

a) Nuclear fission
b) Nuclear fusion
c) Radioactive decay
d) Stellar wind
EVALUATION:
2. Which element is often considered
the "building block" for the synthesis of
heavier elements in stars?

a) Hydrogen
b) Helium
c) Carbon
d) Iron
EVALUATION:
3. During which phase of a star's
evolution does the fusion of helium into
heavier elements primarily occur?

a) Main sequence
b) Red giant phase
c) White dwarf phase
d) Supernova explosion
EVALUATION:
4. What is the ultimate fate of a
massive star that undergoes supernova
explosion?

a) Formation of a neutron star

b) Formation of a black hole
c) Becoming a white dwarf
d) Transformation into a red giant
EVALUATION:
5. Which of the following elements is
typically formed in the core of a massive
star during its late stages of evolution?

a) Gold
b) Oxygen
c) Silicon
d) Carbon
EVALUATION:
6. What role do high temperatures and
pressures play in the synthesis of
heavier elements within a star?

a) Inducing nuclear fission

b) Facilitating nuclear fusion
c) Initiating radioactive decay
d) Promoting stellar wind
EVALUATION:
7. In the process of nucleosynthesis, which
stellar event contributes significantly to the
production of elements heavier than iron?

a) Red dwarf formation

b) Supernova explosion
c) Solar flare
d) White dwarf collapse
EVALUATION:
8. What happens to the outer layers of
a star during a supernova explosion?

a) They collapse into a black hole

b) They form a planetary nebula
c) They are ejected into space
d) They transform into a red giant
EVALUATION:
9. Which type of star is most likely to
contribute to the enrichment of
interstellar gas with heavy elements?

a) Red dwarf
b) White dwarf
c) Massive star
d) Neutron star
EVALUATION:
10. What is the primary source of energy
that fuels the nuclear fusion reactions in a
star's core, leading to the formation of
heavier elements?

a) Gravitational potential energy

b) Magnetic energy
c) Nuclear fission
d) Thermal energy
THANK YOU!!!