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Why has only the most massive stars are important contributors in enriching the galaxy with heavy elements?
Wiki User
∙ 6y ago
To "enrich the Universe", the heavy elements would need to get back out of the star - and into outer space, where it can eventually become part of new star systems. This "getting out" happens mainly in supernova explosions - i.e., in the case of very massive stars.
Also, stars with very low mass mainly convert hydrogen into helium - they didn't have time yet, given the current age of the Universe, to advance to a later stage, where they convert helium into heavier elements - and the stars with the very lowest masses never will, since they won't get hot enough.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoLow to medium mass stars cannot produce elements heavier than oxygen. Higher mass stars can fuse heavier elements up to iron and produce still heavier elements when they explode as supernovae.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoThe super-huge stars can produce all heavy elements that can even exist. In fact, super huge stars can even indirectly produce lithium, beryllium and boron, 3 very light elements, but only indirectly. (Highly energetic cosmic rays randomly strike existing atoms of heavy elements, and split them into the light elements through a process called 'spallation').
Other than lithium, beryllium, and boron, the lighter elements exist anyway from smaller stars.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoOnly massive stars produce heavy elements in the first place. Only the most massive stars get hot enough to make those elements.
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How is it the super novas after the big bang didn't form black holes but rather elements?
There are two explanations. First, when a massive star forms a black hole, usually only a small portion of the star's mass actually goes into the black hole. Most of the rest is blasted away in a supernova, enriching the surrounding space with heavier elements. Second, there are also pair-instability supernovae. Such supernovae occur in extremely massive stars with a very low content of heavier elements, which likely existed in the early universe. Pair-instability supernovae will blow away the entire star, leaving behind no black hole or neutron star remnant.
Why are supernovas important to the existence of life on earth?
Supernovae are when very massive stars finally come to the end of their life. They are important events as during the very short period in which the explosion occurs, temperatures and pressures are sufficient to fuse atoms, making heavier elements. Any elements with a nucleus heavier than the iron nucleus would have had to be formed during a supernova explosion.
Where in the universe are heavy elements with masses greater that that of helium being produced today?
In the interior of certain massive stars.
What are Jupiter's 4 most important moons?
The Galilean moons of Jupiter are (from most massive to least massive) Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
What happens when heavier elements are formed by fusion then a massive star expands?
yes as heavy elements are used for fuel the star expands this is what will happen to the earth it will swell to a red giant engulfing the inner 3 planets as it slowly dies
As heavier elements are formed by fusion a massive star expands into?
Stellar evolution
What is the combining of less massive elements on a star?
Nuclear fusion.
Does nuclear fusion in massive stars create heavy elements?
yes
How is it the super novas after the big bang didn't form black holes but rather elements?
There are two explanations. First, when a massive star forms a black hole, usually only a small portion of the star's mass actually goes into the black hole. Most of the rest is blasted away in a supernova, enriching the surrounding space with heavier elements. Second, there are also pair-instability supernovae. Such supernovae occur in extremely massive stars with a very low content of heavier elements, which likely existed in the early universe. Pair-instability supernovae will blow away the entire star, leaving behind no black hole or neutron star remnant.
As heavier elements are formed by fusion a massive star expands into a what?
A super giant
Why are supernovas important to the existence of life on earth?
Supernovae are when very massive stars finally come to the end of their life. They are important events as during the very short period in which the explosion occurs, temperatures and pressures are sufficient to fuse atoms, making heavier elements. Any elements with a nucleus heavier than the iron nucleus would have had to be formed during a supernova explosion.
Where in the universe are heavy elements made?
Light elements are made in light weight stars via stellar nucleosynthesis. Elements as heavy as iron form in the cores of massive stars. Anything heavier than iron requires a supernova--the collapse and explosion of a super massive star.
How would the universe be different if massive starts didnt explode?
We wouldn't have the heavy elements... and as a result, we wouldn't exist.
Where in the universe are heavy elements with masses greater that that of helium being produced today?
In the interior of certain massive stars.
What are Jupiter's 4 most important moons?
The Galilean moons of Jupiter are (from most massive to least massive) Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
What happens when heavier elements are formed by fusion then a massive star expands?
yes as heavy elements are used for fuel the star expands this is what will happen to the earth it will swell to a red giant engulfing the inner 3 planets as it slowly dies
What is nuclear bomb explosion?
Sudden release (in a few microseconds) of excess nuclear binding energy. This can come from either very massive elements (fission) and/or very light elements (fusion).
