U3D3 The Cosmic Forge: How Elements are Created in Stars

Multiple Choice

What was the first element formed?

• Hydrogen
• Carbon
• Helium
• Oxygen

Open Ended

Why do you think stars shine so bright?

Multiple Choice

What do heavier stars produce?

• Heavier elements and supernovae.
• Gas giants and planetary nebulae.
• Only dark matter and quasars.
• Light elements and black holes.

Open Ended

How would the world be different if stars didn't have higher temperatures?

Open Ended

Why do you think iron is so important to this process?

Open Ended

Why is nuclear fusion important?

Multiple Choice

How do elements get spread in the universe after a supernova?

• Elements are created only in the cores of stars before they explode.
• Elements are absorbed by black holes after a supernova.
• Elements are spread through gravitational waves from the supernova.
• Elements are spread in the universe through the shockwave of a supernova, enriching the interstellar medium.

Multiple Choice

How are the elements that are heavier than helium, but lighter than or equal to iron produced?

• Produced by nuclear fusion within stars.

• All the elements were produced during the initial collision of plasma particles before stars existed.

• They existed since the start of the Big Bang Theory.

• They existed before the Big Bang.

Multiple Choice

What elements are

formed when neutron stars collide?

• Light elements like hydrogen and helium.
• Common elements like carbon and silicon.
• Heavy elements like gold, platinum, and uranium.
• Gases such as oxygen and nitrogen.