Formation of Heavy Elements
Big Bang-Scientists believe that the formation of the universe began through the
explosion of a primordial atom which happened 13 billion years [Link] became a
theory that also explains the continuous expansion of the universe.
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis -Right after Big Bang, protons and neutrons combined
together and formed light elements Hydrogen and Helium. And Other light
elements such as Lithium and Beryllium were also formed during this process.
Stellar Nucleosynthesis- The word “stellar” means star and the formation of
elements in the center of the star is called stellar nucleosynthesis.
Life Cycle of a Star
The life cycle of a star is a fascinating journey that spans billions of years and involves a
series of dramatic transformations. Here's a breakdown of the major stages:
1. Nebula (Birth)
- The Beginning: Stars are born from vast clouds of gas and dust called nebulae. These
nebulae are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, with traces of heavier elements.
- Gravity's Role: Gravity within the nebula begins to pull the gas and dust particles
together, causing the cloud to collapse. As the cloud collapses, it heats up.
- Protostar Formation: The collapsing cloud eventually forms a dense, hot core called a
protostar. The protostar continues to grow as it create more material from the surrounding
nebula.
2. Main Sequence (Stable Phase):
- Nuclear Fusion Ignition: When the core of the protostar reaches a sufficiently high
temperature and pressure, nuclear fusion begins.
Nuclear Fusion- This is the process where hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium, releasing
tremendous amounts of energy.
- Stability: The energy released by nuclear fusion creates outward pressure that balances the
inward pull of gravity. This balance creates a stable star, which enters the main sequence
phase.
- Duration: The length of the main sequence phase depends on the star's mass. Larger,
more massive stars burn through their fuel faster and have shorter lifespans than smaller,
less massive stars.
3. Red Giant (Expansion):
- Hydrogen Depletion: As a star ages, it eventually runs out of hydrogen fuel in its core.
Nuclear fusion stops in the core, and the core begins to contract under gravity.
- Expansion: The outer layers of the star expand and cool, causing the star to become a red
giant. The star's surface temperature decreases, giving it a reddish appearance.
4. Post-Red Giant (Evolutionary Path):
- Helium Fusion: In some stars, the core becomes hot enough to ignite helium fusion,
creating heavier elements like carbon and oxygen. This process is called the helium flash.
- Further Expansion: The star may expand even further, becoming an asymptotic giant
branch (AGB) star.
- Planetary Nebula Formation: As the star sheds its outer layers, it forms a beautiful,
glowing shell of gas called a planetary nebula.
5. White Dwarf (Remnant):
- Core Remains: After the outer layers are expelled, the star's core is left behind as a dense,
hot white dwarf. It is primarily composed of carbon and oxygen.
- Cooling: White dwarfs slowly cool and fade over billions of years, eventually becoming
black dwarfs.
6. Supernova (Massive Stars):
- Iron Core: Massive stars (those much larger than our Sun) continue to fuse heavier
elements in their cores until they reach iron. Iron fusion does not release energy, so the core
collapses rapidly.
- Explosive Collapse: The collapse of the iron core triggers a catastrophic explosion called
a supernova. This explosion releases tremendous amounts of energy and creates heavy
elements that are scattered into space.
7. Neutron Star or Black Hole (Supernova Remnants):
- Neutron Star: If the collapsing core of a massive star is not too massive, it forms a neutron
star. Neutron stars are extremely dense and have incredibly strong magnetic fields.
- Black Hole: If the collapsing core is massive enough, it forms a black hole. Black holes
are regions of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape.
Important Notes:
- Stellar Mass: The mass of a star is the primary factor that determines its life cycle. More
massive stars have shorter but more dramatic lives.
- Evolutionary Paths: The specific evolutionary path of a star can be complex and
influenced by other factors, such as the star's rotation and its composition.
These will explain how stars are formed into different stages because of nuclear
fusion (combination of nuclei to form heavier one) among heavy elements.
1. Proton-Proton Chain reaction
This is the process by which average star gets their energy and convert Hydrogen
into Helium. It starts with proton and neutron fused together to form deuterium.
When one proton collides with deuterium, Helium-3 is formed. Two Helium-3
collided will form Helium-4.
2. Tri alpha process - happens in red giant star once they leave the stage of
main sequence star. This is how three Helium-4 are converted into Carbon.
3. Alpha ladder process- A star accumulates more mass and continues to grow into red
super giant. Alpha particle fusion happens at its core and creates more heavy elements until
Iron.
PERFORMANCE TASK:
you will write a story which relates the events of your life from past, present and future to
the life cycle of a star .
