Lesson 1

Formation of Elements
during the Big Bang
and Stellar Formation
Presented by:
Miss Maria Divina G. Dacal
Teacher II
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Define what is an element.
2. Identify first elements formed
during the formation of the Universe.
3. Explain how heavier elements are
formed.
What is an ELEMENT?
a simple substance that
cannot be broken down into
smaller parts or change into
another substance
LIGHT VS HEAVY
ELEMENTS
 LIGHT ELEMENTS HEAVY ELEMENTS
-were produced in the first -are produced during stellar
few minutes of the Big Bang explosion or on the surface of
-are present during the neutron stars
initial formation of the -occurs in extremely high
universe temperatures but at relatively
Examples: low energy
Hydrogen (lightest Examples:
element) Uranium
Helium Mercury
Lithium Cadmium
Lead
 LIGHT ELEMENTS
Nucleosynthesis means the beginning of
the formation of elements.
Light elements are formed during Big
Bang Nucleosynthesis.
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis is the process
of producing the light elements during
the big bang expansion.
 BIG BANG THEORY
Explains how the universe began, it
started with an infinitely hot and
dense single point that inflated and
stretched to grow as large as it is now
and still stretching and expanding.
 LIGHT ELEMENTS
In the beginning, the universe was
very hot that matter was fully
ionized and dissociated. Few
seconds after the start of the big
bang, the universe was filled with
protons, neutrons, electrons,
neutrinos, and positrons.
 LIGHT ELEMENTS
After the first three minutes, the
universe cooled down to a point
where atomic nuclei can form.
Protons and neutrons combined
to form atomic nuclei such as
deuterium.
 LIGHT ELEMENTS
Light elements that are formed
after the big bang were –
Hydrogen (H), Helium (He),
along with the trace amounts of
Lithium (Li) and Beryllium (Be).
FORMATION OF HEAVY
ELEMENTS
 HEAVY ELEMENTS
Some of the heavier elements in
the periodic table are created
when pairs of the neutron stars
collide cataclysmically and
explode.
 STELLAR NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
Stellar means “star”
Nucleosynthesis means “the
beginning or formation of”
-refers to the creation of chemical
elements by nuclear fusion
reactions within stars.
-is the process involving nuclear
reactions through which new
atomic nuclei are created from
pre-existing nuclei or nucleons
-has occurred since the original
creation of hydrogen (H), helium
(He) and lithium (Li) during the
Big Bang.
-occurs in stars during stellar
evolution
SUMMARY OF THE LESSON
1.Define what is an element.
2.Identify first elements formed during
the formation of the Universe.
3.Explain how heavier elements are
formed.
 Which of the following is the most accepted
theory about the formation of the universe
1
that explains why it continues to expand?

A. Big Bang Theory

B. Biogenesis Theory
C. Divine Creation Theory
D. Theory of Panspermia
 Which of the following is not
2 considered as light element?

A. Helium
B. Hydrogen
C. Iron
D. Lithium
 Which of the following is TRUE
3 about nucleosynthesis?
A. It is the division of atomic particle
B. The combination of elements to form compound
C. It is the creation of everything including all matter
in universe
D. It is the process of creating new atomic nuclei
from pre-existing nuclei
 Which process is responsible for
4
the formation of light elements
such as hydrogen and helium?
A. Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
B. Stellar Nucleosynthesis
C. Supernova Nucleosynthesis
D. Terrestrial Nucleosynthesis
 Which element is the lightest and at
5
the same time the most abundant
in outer space?
A. Helium
B. Hydrogen
C. Iron
D. Lithium
 ASSIGNMENT
Read about how
stars are formed and
their characteristics.
LIFE CYCLE OF A STAR
Presented by:
Maria Divina G. Dacal
SHS Teacher II
 REVIEW QUESTIONS
1.Define what is an element.
2.Identify first elements formed during
the formation of the Universe.
3.Explain how heavier elements are
formed.
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Explain stellar nucleosynthesis.
2. Cite the different heavy elements
formed in each stage of star cycle.
 STARS
Stars are immense, luminous
spheres of extremely hot
gases. Although they shine
brilliantly, they are not
eternal. They pass through
various stages known as the
life cycle of a star.
 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT
STAGES IN STAR'S LIFE CYCLE?
 LIFE CYCLE OF A STAR
Every star begins life by moving
through 4 stages:
1. Cosmic nursery – nebula
2. Childhood –protostar
3. Ignition into main sequence star
4. Cooling off and expansion as a red
giant
STELLAR NEBULA
All stars originate
from nebulae,
which are massive
clouds made of
gas and dust.
STAGE 1: STELLAR NEBULA
-huge cloud of gas and dust between
the stars
-formed when a dying star explodes or
when swirling motion of a galaxy
creates a concentration of interstellar
gases
-where stars are born
STAGE 1: STELLAR NEBULA
-stars formed inside nebulas
because of the presence of
hydrogen
-it grows as it gets bigger
and bigger
 NEW STAR
The core of a star shines
brilliantly due to the
nuclear reactions taking
place. This process of
nuclear fusion is
responsible for the
formation of new stars.
STAGE 2: PROTOSTAR

-huge clumps of gas and dust

that aren’t quiet hot enough to
achieve fusion
-as gravity pulls it tighter
together, it heats up and begun to
glow
STAGE 2: PROTOSTAR
-it could reach up to 15 million
degrees Fahrenheit, so hot that
hydrogen (H) atoms in its core
begin fusing forming helium (He)
-the larger the star, the shorter
the protostar stage
STAGE 2: PROTOSTAR

Massive stars – around a million

(1 million) years
Average stars – 50 million years
Smallest stars – 100 million years
STAGE 3: MAIN SEQUENCE
Once a star begins fusion, it
becomes much more stable and
enters this stage of its life cycle.
It releases incredible amount of
energy that stops gravity from
pulling it tighter.
STAGE 3: MAIN SEQUENCE
As long as it has enough hydrogen
(H) in its core to keep fusion going, a
star will stay in the main sequence
stage.
The time it takes for the star to stay
on this stage depends on its mass.
RED GIANT STAR
During the final stages of its
lifetime, a star will expand,
cool, and change color,
eventually becoming a red
giant.
STAGE 4: RED GIANT
Once a star runs out of hydrogen, its
life will change dramatically. Fusion
reaction will end causing the fusion of
helium to carbon instead.
Stars in this stage becomes several
hundred times larger than it was in
main sequence.
STAGE 4: RED GIANT
HOT stars glow- Blue-white
or white
COOLER stars glow- orange
or yellow
COOLEST stars are red
PLANETARY NEBULA
As a smaller star begins to cool
down and lose its glow, it will
eventually go through the
planetary nebula stage.
STAGE 5: WHITE DWARF
When stars run out of fuel
they become white dwarf.
Some generate massive
explosions. Biggest stars turn
into a blackholes.
STAGE 5: WHITE DWARF
Star’s core eventually runs out of
helium to fuse into carbon. The
outer layers blow away and
become a planetary nebula.
Once it cool off they will become
black dwarfs and no longer shine.
STAGE 6: SUPERGIANTS and SUPERNOVAS

Red giants becomes

SUPERGIANTS, some of the
largest stars in the sky.
Then they explode in a
supernova.
STAGE 6: SUPERGIANTS and SUPERNOVAS

SUPERNOVA is the
catastrophic collapse of a star
making the core so hot that its
atoms explode in a
supermassive burst.
STAGE 7: BLACKHOLES and NEUTRON
STARS

If a star is massive enough, its

core can survive the
supernova and may become a
blackhole or neutron star.
STAGE 7: BLACKHOLES and NEUTRON
STARS

Neutron star is a collapse

core of massive supergiant
star.
STAGE 7: BLACKHOLES and NEUTRON
STARS

Black hole is a region of

spacetime where gravity is so
strong that nothing including
light cannot escape.
LIFE CYCLE OF A STAR
1.Stellar Nebula
2.Protostar
3.Main sequence
4.Red giant
5.White dwarf
6.Supergiant or supernova
7.Neutron star or blackhole