The document discusses the formation of heavier elements through stellar nucleosynthesis. It explains that elements heavier than beryllium are formed through nuclear fusion processes inside stars as they evolve over time. As stars age and burn through lighter elements like hydrogen and helium in their cores, they begin fusing heavier elements like carbon, oxygen, neon, magnesium, and silicon. This process continues until iron is formed, at which point fusion stops releasing energy. When massive stars reach this stage, they explode as supernovae, further fusing elements and scattering them throughout space.

3. Activity: Cosmic Connection: Jumbled
UNIVERSE
Instruction: Arrange the jumbled words given.
Write your answers in your work notebook.

4. Objectives:
• Understand the Big bang theory
• Define Stellar Nucleosynthesis
• Analyze how heavier elements are formed

5. The Formation of Heavier Elements during Star
Formation and Evolution
• Stellar nucleosynthesis is the process by
which elements are formed within stars. The
abundances of these elements change as the
stars evolve.
• Elements heavier than beryllium are formed
through stellar nucleosynthesis.

6. Evolution of Stars
• Star formation theory- 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. Due to strong gravitational force, the
protostar contracts and its temperature increases. When
the core temperature reaches about 10 million K, nuclear
reactions begin. 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.

7. • In the core of a main sequence star, hydrogen is
fused into helium via the proton-proton chain. When
most of the hydrogen in the core is fused into
helium, fusion stops, and the pressure in the core
decreases. Gravity squeezes the star to a point that
helium and hydrogen burning occur. 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

8. • 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.

9. • However, the fate of a massive star is different. 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

10. • The fusion of elements continues until iron is formed by
silicon fusion. Elements lighter than iron can be fused
because when two of these elements combine, they
produce a nucleus with a mass lower than the sum of
their masses. The missing mass is released as energy.
Therefore, the fusion of elements lighter than iron
releases energy. However, this does not happen to iron
nuclei. Rather than releasing energy, the fusion of two
iron nuclei requires an input of energy. Therefore,
elements lighter than and including iron can be
produced in a massive star, but no elements heavier
than iron are produced.

11. • 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.

12. Activity: FACT of BLUFF
• Instruction: Determine whether the provided statements are
correct or incorrect. Write FACT OR BLUFF

13. Assignment:
Instruction: Write a Reflection Paper on the Cosmic
Connection by Carl Sagan
"We are a way for the universe to know itself.
Some part of our being knows this is where we came
from. We long to return. And we can, because the
cosmos is also within us. We're made of star stuff," -
Carl Sagan’s “The Cosmic Connection”