THE FORMATION OF ELEMENTS IN THE UNIVERSE.pptx

"The Formation of Elements in the Universe" explores how elements were created through processes such as the Big Bang nucleosynthesis, stellar fusion, and supernovae explosions. This presentation delves into the origins of hydrogen, helium, and heavier elements, highlighting their distribution and significance in the cosmos.

1. THE FORMATION OF ELEMENTS IN THE UNIVERSE Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Senior High School Osmena Ave., Victorias City Negros Occidental Physical Science UNIT 1: How the elements found in the universe were formed Prepared By: Lord William B. Pacurib, LPT

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS The formation of the elements during the Big Bang and during stellar evolution The distribution of the chemical elements and the isotopes in the universe Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer

3. OBJECTIVES Give evidence for and explain the formation of the light elements in the Big Bang theory (S11/12PS-IIIa-1) Give evidence for and describe the formation of heavier elements during star formation and evolution (S11/12PS-IIIa-2) Write the nuclear fusion reactions that take place in stars, which lead to the formation of new elements (S11/12PS-IIIa-3) Describe how elements heavier than iron are formed (S11/12PS-IIIa-4) Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer

4. FORMATION OF LIGHT ELEMENTS The Big Bang: Imagine everything in the universe squished into a tiny, hot, dense point. Then, around 13.8 billion years ago, it suddenly expanded. This is the Big Bang. Expanding Universe: Since then, the universe has been expanding, like a balloon being blown up. Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer Big Bang Basics

5. FORMATION OF LIGHT ELEMENTS Hot and Dense: Just after the Big Bang, the universe was incredibly hot and dense. Cooling Down: As it expanded, it cooled down. Think of it like taking a cake out of the oven – it starts hot but cools over time. Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer First Moments After the Big Bang

6. FORMATION OF LIGHT ELEMENTS First Few Minutes: In the first few minutes after the Big Bang, the temperature was still millions of degrees. This was hot enough for nuclear reactions to occur. Protons and Neutrons: These temperatures allowed protons (positively charged particles) and neutrons (neutral particles) to form. Combining: Protons and neutrons began combining to form the nuclei of light elements. Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

7. FORMATION OF LIGHT ELEMENTS Hydrogen (H): Most protons stayed as hydrogen nuclei. Helium (He): Some protons and neutrons combined to form helium nuclei. Tiny Amounts of Lithium (Li) and Beryllium (Be): Very small amounts of lithium and beryllium were also formed. Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer Main Elements Formed

8. FORMATION OF LIGHT ELEMENTS Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB): This is the afterglow of the Big Bang, like the heat left in the oven after you turn it off. It gives us clues about the early universe. Uniformity: The CMB is nearly uniform in all directions, supporting the idea of a hot, dense beginning. Elemental Abundances: When we look at old stars and galaxies, we see the amounts of hydrogen, helium, and a bit of lithium match what the Big Bang theory predicts. Helium: There’s a lot more helium in the universe than can be explained by stars alone, supporting its formation in the Big Bang. Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer Evidence for Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

9. FORMATION OF HEAVIER ELEMENTS Gas Cloud: Stars begin as massive clouds of gas and dust in space. Gravity: Gravity pulls the gas and dust together, making the cloud collapse and heat up. Protostar: This forms a "protostar," which is a baby star. Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer Birth of a Star

10. FORMATION OF HEAVIER ELEMENTS Nuclear Fusion: In the core of the protostar, temperatures and pressures become so high that hydrogen atoms start to fuse together. Hydrogen Fusion: Hydrogen atoms (the simplest and lightest element) combine to form helium. This process releases a lot of energy, which makes the star shine. Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer Star Formation

11. FORMATION OF HEAVIER ELEMENTS Helium Fusion: As the star uses up hydrogen, it starts fusing helium into heavier elements like carbon and oxygen. Advanced Fusion: In even hotter and denser conditions, these heavier elements can fuse to form even heavier elements like neon, magnesium, silicon, sulfur, and iron. Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer Stellar Nucleosynthesis

12. FORMATION OF HEAVIER ELEMENTS Red Giants and Supergiants : When a star like our Sun runs out of hydrogen, it expands into a red giant. Bigger stars (much bigger than our Sun) become supergiants . Fusion Layers: Inside these giants, there are layers where different types of fusion occur, creating a variety of elements. Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer Stellar Evolution

13. FORMATION OF HEAVIER ELEMENTS Explosion: This explosion creates extremely high temperatures and pressures, which allow for the creation of the heaviest elements, like gold and uranium. Scatter Elements: The supernova scatters these elements into space, enriching the universe with heavy elements. Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer End of a Star’s Life Supernova (for massive stars): When massive stars exhaust their fuel, they can explode in a supernova.

14. FORMATION OF HEAVIER ELEMENTS Planetary Nebula (for smaller stars): Smaller stars, like our Sun, will shed their outer layers into space, leaving behind a core called a white dwarf. This process also spreads elements created in the star into space. Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer End of a Star’s Life

15. FORMATION OF HEAVIER ELEMENTS New Stars and Planets: The heavy elements ejected by supernovae and planetary nebulas mix with other gas clouds in space. These enriched clouds can then form new stars and planets. Cycle Continues: This cycle repeats, leading to the gradual increase in heavy elements in the universe over billions of years. Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer Rebirth of Elements

16. FORMATION OF HEAVIER ELEMENTS Spectroscopy: By studying the light from stars, astronomers can determine what elements they contain. Different elements absorb and emit light at specific wavelengths. Observing Supernovae: We've observed supernovae and the elements they produce. For example, supernova remnants contain heavy elements that weren't there before the explosion. Meteorites and Earth: The elements found in meteorites and on Earth show a variety of elements that match those formed in stars. Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias , Inc. – Integrated School Bringing Quality Education Closer Evidences of Stellar Nucleosynthesis