Stellar Nucleosynthesis

What is nucleosynthesis?

• How the sun creates new hydrogen atoms out of dark matter

• How helium atoms are broken down by nuclear fission to produce hydrogen

• How a nucleus is produced during the big bang

• How new elements are created in stars by combining the nuclei of atoms

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

What is responsible for 85% of the energy from the sun?

• the break down of heavy elements by fission

• the burning of plasma

• hydrogen fusing into helium in the sun's core

• the burning of electrons from the outsides of atoms

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

When a star runs out of hydrogen, it changes dramatically. The star cools, gets larger, and becomes a red giant or supergiant depending on the mass of the star. In the largest stars what happens?

• comets and meteorites eject new elements into the star

• larger atoms like oxygen and iron form

• multiple new stars are formed as the large star splits

• red and blue light move around the core

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

The largest elements form during a supernova.

• true

• false

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

How do elements like gold, copper, and lead end up on earth?

• they flow through sunshine to the earth

• as the earth gets close to a red giant, its gravity pulls these elements to the ground

• supernovae send these elements into the interstellar matter and they end up on earth from there

• these elements are made on earth by volcanic action

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

What is required to make nucleosynthesis happen (check all that apply)?

• a high speed collision

• a very high temperature

• a black hole

• violent surface interactions like solar flares

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

What happens when a star's core runs out of helium? (check all that apply)

• the star begins to die out

• the becomes a red giant

• the star begins fusing helium into carbon atoms

• the star becomes blue or white because of the temperature change

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

What is needed to produce atoms heavier than iron?

• nuclear fission

• objects, such as comets, running into the star

• a supernova

• a solar flare

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Your body is made up of many different elements. Where did those heavier elements, such as cobalt and molybdenum, come from?

• volcanoes

• solar wind

• supernovae

• sunspots

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Why do high-mass stars skip the helium flash stage that low-mass stars go through before dying?

• Not enough hydrogen at the core.

• Once hydrogen is used up at the core the star explodes.

• Once helium is used up at the core the star explodes.

• High-mass stars never die.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3