Visayas Christian Institute of Technology Inc.

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

PHYSICAL SCIENCE 12
Quarter _1__, Week __1__

Give evidence for and describe the formation of heavier

elements during star formation and evolution (S11/12PS-
IIIB-11)

General Reminders:
1. Please handle this learning activity sheet (LAS) with care.
2. Use attached answer sheet in writing your answers.
3. Follow IATF Health Protocols when returning and or getting LAS.

Explore

Direction: Identify the key term referred in each statement. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.

__________1. It is a process where the heavy elements are produced within the stars.

__________2. It is a violent explosion of a star.

__________3. It is formed when fragments of molecular cloud are clustered.

__________4. It refers to the materials found between stars.

__________5. The solid particles in the stars are called__________.

Learn

The stellar evolution deals with the various events of the star’s life. From the dense
molecular cloud to time when the star becomes exhausted all its nuclear fuel. The
stellar nucleosynthesis is a chemical process of forming heavy elements within the
stars. This process requires high amount of temperature, pressure and energy so
that fusion will take place to create heavy elements. These heavy elements are very
essential in our environment; some in our bodies were produced through stellar
nucleosynthesis.

How do stars are formed? How do heavy elements are formed?

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The Formation of Heavier Elements

The lighter elements are formed during the big bang nucleosynthesis. On the
other hand, the heavier elements are formed through the stellar
nucleosynthesis. Stellar nucleosynthesis is a formation of heavy elements
within the stars. As the stars are evolving, there is a greater possibility of
formation and changes of elements.
Stellar Evolution

The stellar evolution is an event of changes of a star during its lifetime from
evolutionary phase of protostar until its stellar death: supernova. The theory of
collapse under gravity is considered as the major theory of the star formation. The
stars are formed by the gravitational collapse of dense molecular cloud. As the
molecular cloud collapses, the fragments from different regions are grouped to form
stellar core called protostar. As the protostar’s temperature increases, the nuclear
reaction starts up to convert hydrogen into helium in its core then star is form into
the main sequence. The star will continue converting hydrogen into helium then it
will become a main sequence star.

Eventually, in the main sequence star fuses so much of its hydrogen into helium,
the fusion will stop. The pressure in the core is reduced. Meanwhile, the star’s core
cools then begin to contract again. In this case, the contraction increases the
pressure and temperature of the star’s core. In the core, helium is converted to
carbon while in the shell, hydrogen is converted into helium making the star -red
giant. The stellar evolution produces elements through iron (Fe). The star’s outer
materials are blown off into the space and the remainder of the star becomes a
white dwarf. The star’s core can no longer make energy to resist from gravity. The
star now will explode and release a large amount of energy this explosion is referred
as supernova.

Shells fusion
The bigger the star, the heavier elements it can produce inside the core. In this
case, the massive star has enough temperature and pressure for the fusion to take
place. For instance, the formation of heavy elements. In the entire star’s lifetime,
different events will happen such as fusion of heavy elements in the core and in the
shells that surround the core. The shell fusion is a process of formation of new
elements in its layers or regions. For this case, carbon fusion will form oxygen,
neon from the
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fusion of oxygen, from neon fusion will create magnesium, silicon is the product of
magnesium fusion and iron is form from silicon fusion as seen in the above figure
of shells fusion. When new elements are produced, new layers are added up to the
size of the star until it becomes multiple shell-red giant.
Evidence of formation of heavy elements
One of the significant evidences to support the formation of heavier elements during
stellar evolution is the interstellar medium. The interstellar medium is all the
collection of interstellar matter. The interstellar matter refers to the materials
between the stars. About ninety-nine percent (99%) of these materials are in the
form of gases. The most abundant gases are helium and hydrogen. And the
remaining one percent (1%) is in the form of solids which are frozen particles called
interstellar grains. The interstellar grains are made up of rock like materials.
Another evidence to corroborate the formation of heavy elements is infrared
radiation. The infrared radiation is a form of energy detected in the process of star
formation. Astronomers used infrared radiation to estimate the pressure,
temperature and energy in the evolutionary phase of the star formation.
1. The stellar nucleosynthesis is a formation of heavy elements within the stars.
2. The major theory of the star formation is the theory of collapse under gravity.
3. The protostar is formed when fragments of molecular cloud are grouped.
4. The interstellar matter refers to the materials between the stars.
5. The supernova is the violent explosion of the stars.
6. The interstellar medium is all the collection of interstellar matter in the star.
7. The infrared radiation is a form of energy detected in the process of star
formation.

Engage

Activity 1
Direction: Match the term in Column A to Column B. Use a separate sheet of
paper for your answer.
A B

_____1. Interstellar grain a. All the interstellar found in

the stars.
_____2. Multiple shell red giant
b. The energy found in the star
_____3. Interstellar medium formation.
c. Frozen materials
_____4. Infrared radiation
d. A process of formation of new
_____5. Shell fusion elements in the star.
e. Layers are added up in the
regions of star.

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Activity 2

Direction: Define the following terms. Use a separate sheet of paper for your
answer.
1. White dwarf

2. Protostar

3. Stellar nucleosynthesis

4. Multiple shell-red giant

5. Interstellar grain

Activity 3
Direction: Label the element formed in each shell fusion. Use a separate sheet of
paper for your answer.

1 ._______

2 ._______

3 ._______

4 ._______

5 ._______

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 Apply

Directions: Multiple Choice. Read and analyze each question. Write the letter that
corresponds to your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. The rock like materials found in the star.

a. Interstellar grain c. Supernova
b. Protostar d. Main sequence star
2. Which of the following best describe stellar nucleosynthesis?
a. A process of producing gases c. A process of massive
in the stars. explosion in the stars.
b. A process of producing heavy d. A process of forming
elements in the molecular heavy elements within the stars.
cloud.
3. Which of the following elements is not formed during the stellar evolution?
a. Neon c. Magnesium
b. Manganese d. Silicon
4. Which of the following is not part of infrared radiation?
a. Pressure c. Energy
b. Temperature d. Chemical reaction
5. These are the abundant gases in the stellar evolution.
a. Nitrogen and Chlorine c. Helium and Hydrogen
b. Argon and Krypton d. Hydrogen and Nitrogen
6. When carbon fuses, what element is formed?
a. Neon c. Hydrogen
b. Oxygen d. Silicon
7. In the process of stellar nucleosynthesis, when silicon fuses what element is
formed?
a. Iron c. Magnesium
b. Neon d. Manganese
8. In the main sequence star, what happen if the fusion stops?
a. The energy in the core c. The chemical reaction in the increases.
core stops.
b. The pressure in the core is d. The molecular cloud in the
reduce. core explodes
9. The energy detected in the star formation.
a. Infrared radiation c. Chemical reaction
b. Ultraviolet ray d. Interstellar medium
10. When magnesium fuses, what element is formed?
a. Neon c. Magnesium
b. Silicon d. oxygen

References
Andrew, F., David, M. & Wolff, S.C. Astronomy. OpenStax, Rice University,
Houston, Texas 77005, 2017.

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Kjaer, K. Introduction to Astronomy 1 st Edition. Bookboon, The ebook Company,
2016.

Prepared by:

RUEL L. RINCONADA
Teacher

Checked and Reviewed by:

EVELINA T. AUSTERO Ma, Ed.

School Principal

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