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Lesson1 2

1) Stellar nucleosynthesis is the process by which heavier elements are formed within stars through nuclear fusion as stars evolve and die. 2) As a star ages, its core generates heavier elements through successive fusion of lighter elements, starting with helium and progressing to carbon, oxygen, neon, magnesium, silicon and eventually iron. 3) When stars reach iron in their cores, nuclear fusion can no longer generate energy and the star dies, either peacefully as a white dwarf or violently in a supernova explosion that scatters these heavier elements into space.

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49 views16 pages

Lesson1 2

1) Stellar nucleosynthesis is the process by which heavier elements are formed within stars through nuclear fusion as stars evolve and die. 2) As a star ages, its core generates heavier elements through successive fusion of lighter elements, starting with helium and progressing to carbon, oxygen, neon, magnesium, silicon and eventually iron. 3) When stars reach iron in their cores, nuclear fusion can no longer generate energy and the star dies, either peacefully as a white dwarf or violently in a supernova explosion that scatters these heavier elements into space.

Uploaded by

Jofel Cañada
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PHYSICAL SCIENCE

The Formation of Heavier


Elements during Star
Formation and Evolution
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, you
should be able to give evidence
for and describe the formation of
heavier elements during star
formation and evolution.
How are elements
heavier than
beryllium formed?
Stellar nucleosynthesis
is the process by which elements are formed within
stars. The abundances of these elements change as
the stars evolve.
Stellar nebula – birthplace of the stars
EVOLUTION OF STARS
The star formation theory proposes that stars form due to the collapse of
the dense regions of a molecular cloud.

As the cloud collapses, the fragments contract to form a stellar core


called protostar.

The reactions release positrons and neutrinos which


increase pressure and stop the contraction. When the contraction stops,
the gravitational equilibrium is reached, and the protostar has become a
main sequence star.
Helium is converted to
carbon in the core
while hydrogen is
converted to helium in
the shell surrounding
the core. The star has
become a red giant.
When the majority of the helium in the core has been converted
to carbon, then the rate of fusion decreases. Gravity again squeezes
the star. In a low-mass star (with mass less than twice the Sun’s
mass), there is not enough mass for a carbon fusion to occur. The
star’s fuel is depleted, and over time, the outer material of the star is
blown off into space. The only thing that remains is the hot and inert
carbon core. The star becomes a white dwarf.
A massive star has enough mass
such that temperature and pressure
increase to a point where carbon fusion
can occur. The star goes through a series
of stages where heavier elements are
fused in the core and in the shells
around the core. The element oxygen is
formed from carbon fusion; neon from
oxygen fusion; magnesium from neon
fusion: silicon from magnesium fusion;
and iron from silicon fusion. The star
becomes a multiple-shell red giant.
When the core can no longer
produce energy to resist gravity,
the star is doomed. Gravity
squeezes the core until the star
explodes and releases a large
amount of energy. The star
explosion is called a supernova.
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.
• The IR measurements are then used to approximate the
energy, temperature, and pressure in the protostar.

Extinction in astronomy means the absorption and


scattering of electromagnetic radiation by gases and dust
particles between an emitting astronomical object and an
observer.
QUESTION
QUESTION
QUESTION
QUESTION
QUESTION
Output #1
Nuclear Processes involved
in the Formation of
Elements in a long bond !
paper.

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