Star Formation and
Evolution
✔1. discuss star formation and
evolution;
✔2. distinguish and describe
the phases in the life cycle of
Objectives
stars;
✔3. relate the stages of human
life to star formation and
evolution.
PRE-TEST
Direction: Read each sentence very well and
choose the letter of the best answer. Write your
answer on your notebook.
1. What period in a star’s life is the
fusing of hydrogen into helium
takes place?
a. solar mass
b. middle ages
c. stellar nebula
d. main sequence
2. Which of the four fundamental forces
pulled together hot, dense areas of
matter in the early Universe to jumpstart
the process of star formation?
a. gravity
b. electromagnetism
c. weak nuclear fusion
d. strong nuclear fusion
3. In what stage of a star’s life happen
when a core can no longer produce its
fuel as star explodes and releases a large
amount of energy?
a. nebula
b. giant star
c. supernova
d. main sequence
4. Which of the following is a major
factor in determining the life span of a
star?
a. strength of gravitational force
b. amount of iron produced
c. temperature of the star
d. mass of the star
5. What is the proper stellar evolution sequence
of a low-mass star?
a. protostar> main sequence star> red giant >
white dwarf
b. protostar> main sequence star> white dwarf>
red giant
c. main sequence star> protostar> red giant>
white dwarf
d. main sequence star> red giant> white dwarf>
protostar
ANSWER
1. What period in a star’s life is the
fusing of hydrogen into helium
takes place?
a. solar mass
b. middle ages
c. stellar nebula
d. main sequence
2. Which of the four fundamental forces
pulled together hot, dense areas of
matter in the early Universe to jumpstart
the process of star formation?
a. gravity
b. electromagnetism
c. weak nuclear fusion
d. strong nuclear fusion
3. In what stage of a star’s life happen
when a core can no longer produce its
fuel as star explodes and releases a large
amount of energy?
a. nebula
b. giant star
c. supernova
d. main sequence
4. Which of the following is a major
factor in determining the life span of a
star?
a. strength of gravitational force
b. amount of iron produced
c. temperature of the star
d. mass of the star
5. What is the proper stellar evolution sequence
of a low-mass star?
a. protostar> main sequence star> red giant >
white dwarf
b. protostar> main sequence star> white dwarf>
red giant
c. main sequence star> protostar> red giant>
white dwarf
d. main sequence star> red giant> white dwarf>
protostar
The world
where we live
today is just a
small part of
our universe.
Where do stars come
from?
What are stars made of?
What keeps them shine
so bright?
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
Right after Big Bang, protons and neutrons combined
and formed light elements Hydrogen and Helium through
the process of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. 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.
Stellar Nucleosynthesis
The word “stellar” means star
and the formation of elements in
the center of the star is called
stellar nucleosynthesis.
What
Determines
the Life Cycle
of a Star?
Activity #1 :
Life Cycle of
a Star
1. Nebula
2. Protostar
3. Main Sequence
8. Red Giant Star 4. Red Supergiant Star
9. White Dwarf 5. Supernova
10. Black Dwarf
7.
Neutron 6. Black Hole
Star
I. In the Beginning: The Nebulae!
Fourteen billion years ago, in the
vast universe, clouds of dust particles
turbulently reacted to gravity and
underwent a lot of changes. These
scattered gas and dust particles
clumped together in a complex process
that resulted to gigantic forms known as
nebula. These giant and massive clumps
of clouds or nebulae are where stars
originate. They underwent chemical and
nuclear reactions that further led to the
formation of heavenly bodies, especially
stars.
II. Stars’ Starting Point of Life: The
Protostar!
Protostar is the primal stage of a
star’s life. It is where gravity had caused
dense regions within a nebula more
compact. These regions spin and shrink
and started to form a flattened disk. This
hot dense at the center of the cloud
becomes the core of the star. It may
develop into either low to a medium
mass star or a high mass star. A protostar
is a developing young star.
III. A Star is Born: The Main Sequence Star!
Protostar undergoes a process of
increasing temperature and pressure
until a nuclear fusion takes place. Once
this process of thermonuclear fusion of
hydrogen to helium stabilizes, a star is
born. This star will start to produce a
tremendous amount of energy. Most
stars in the universe are main sequence
stars constituting
IV. Growing Older, Growing Bigger: The
Red Giant Star!
As the hydrogen in the middle of the star
is depleted, the core of the star shrinks
and heats. While the outer portion
atmosphere, which is mainly hydrogen
begins to expand. The star grows larger
and brighter, and the surface
temperature cools so that it shines red.
The star is now a red giant.
V. The Death of a Star: Depletion of
Energy!
The Downfall of a Low Mass Star: White
Dwarf Star to Black Dwarf Star!
Sometime after blowing off its outer
layers, the central star will run out of
fuel. When this happens, the central star
starts to die. Gravity causes the star to
fall internally, and the body to become
extremely thick and small, about the size
of the planet then the star became a
white dwarf star.
V. The Death of a Star: Depletion of
Energy!
The Downfall of a Low Mass Star: White
Dwarf Star to Black Dwarf Star!
White dwarfs no longer generate energy
by reactions, they radiate their energy
into space in the form of light and heat.
They are going to cool down slowly over
time. Eventually, once all their energy is
gone, they will no longer emit light. The
star is now a dead black dwarf star, and
it will remain like this forever.
V. The Death of a Star: Depletion of
Energy!
The Downfall of a High Mass Star:
Supernova to Black Hole!
Giant stars that are greater than eight
times the mass of the sun swell and
burst. They too expire when the
hydrogen in their core is exhausted.
They evolve into red super giants that
are far larger than the red giants.
V. The Death of a Star: Depletion of
Energy!
The Downfall of a High Mass Star:
Supernova to Black Hole!
When the core can no longer produce
energy to resist gravity, the star is
doomed. Gravity enfolds the nucleus
until the star explodes and releases an
enormous amount of energy. Then, the
red super giant becomes a supernova.
V. The Death of a Star: Depletion of
Energy!
The Downfall of a High Mass Star:
Supernova to Black Hole!
Supernova can overshadow all other
stars in its galaxy. But they fade quickly
over time. The central star left behind is
either made of neutrons and is called a
neutron star, or if the initial star is
massive, a black hole is formed.
V. The Death of a Star: Depletion of Energy!
The Downfall of a High Mass Star: Supernova to Black
Hole!
The remaining neutron star or black hole is
surrounded by an expanding cloud of very hot gas
and a new nebula is formed for the birth of another
young star.
Activity #2: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Big Star, How I Wander as
You Are!”
Relate the evolution of a star to the life cycle of a person.
Activity 3: “Star in the Making”
Demonstrate what you have learned on the formation of stars by doing
any of the suggested star projects below. Make sure to emphasize why
stars evolve and the reasons for this evolution in their lifetime.
1. Vlog , Video, Podcast- if you have the means, jump right in (must be
modest)
2. Poem, Song, Rap- compose a rhyme to convey how stars live (can
be recorded)
3. Fun Board Game- create a short board game on star’s life cycle
(must be enjoyable)
4. Comic Story- create a one-page comic star’s life cycle story
(cartoons or cut-outs)
5. Any Bright Idea You Have-bring out your ingenuity (need to ask
teacher’s approval)
Valuing
You are now as brilliant as the stars with
all the dazzling things you have learned about
the formation and evolution of stars.
What do you like the most about this
topic? Can you think of the vivid things you
have learned on how stars evolve? Can you
also see yourself evolving too? Express
yourself freely.
