Context

Stellar evolution is one of the most fascinating topics in Physics and Astronomy. It refers to the process through which a star goes through during its life cycle, from its formation from a cloud of gas and dust, to its eventual end as a compact object or a spectacular explosion.

It all begins in a dense region of a molecular cloud, where matter starts to clump together due to gravity. As gas and dust accumulate, the resulting object, called a protostar, begins to heat up and contract. Eventually, pressures and temperatures high enough are reached in the protostar's core to initiate nuclear fusion reactions, turning it into a fully functioning star.

Over billions of years, the star consumes its nuclear fuel, going through various stages of evolution. The exact path depends on the star's initial mass. Low to medium mass stars, like our Sun, end their lives as white dwarfs, while high mass stars can undergo cataclysmic explosions known as supernovae, leaving behind a neutron core or a black hole.

Understanding stellar evolution is crucial to explain the origin and distribution of chemical elements in the universe. After all, it is the stars that produce heavy elements, such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and iron, essential for life as we know it.

Studying stellar evolution helps us better understand the universe, the origin of chemical elements, the formation of planets, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. It can also give us an idea of how our own solar system formed and will eventually end.

Astronomers use a variety of techniques and tools to study stars and their evolution. This includes optical and radio telescopes, satellites, and computational simulators. With the help of these tools, we are able to see stars in different stages of evolution and understand the process from beginning to end.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Stellar Journey - A simulation of stellar evolution"

Project Objective

Dive into the universe of star formation and evolution by creating a digital presentation that simulates the life cycle of a star. The goal is to synthesize knowledge about stellar evolution and ensure the understanding of the concept, building a narrative that covers the stages of a star's life, from its formation to its eventual end.

Detailed Project Description

The "Stellar Journey" project is an opportunity for students to learn about stellar evolution using a visual and interactive approach.

Each group of students (3 to 5 members) will be responsible for creating a digital presentation of 10-15 slides that illustrates the journey of a star throughout its life. The slides should represent all key stages of stellar evolution, with descriptions and explanations of each phase.

Groups should spend about two to four hours researching stellar evolution, working on the presentation collaboratively, preparing the report, and reviewing the work.

To create the presentation, students are encouraged to use image editing tools and/or presentation software to create images and graphics that help visualize stellar evolution.

Required Materials

• Internet access for research
• Image editing or presentation software (such as Google Slides, PowerPoint, Canva, etc.)
• Pen and paper for sketches and notes

Detailed Step-by-Step

1. Research: Groups start the project by researching stellar evolution. Each group member is responsible for reading and studying a phase of stellar evolution. Key points should be noted, along with representative images or data that can be used in the presentation.

2. Presentation Planning: After the research, group members gather to discuss what they have learned and start planning the presentation. Together, they outline the sequence of slides, with each slide representing a different phase of stellar evolution.

3. Presentation Creation: Using image editing or presentation software, students work together to create the presentation. Slides should include images or graphics, as well as a brief description or explanation of what is happening in each phase of stellar evolution.

4. Report Preparation: Alongside the presentation, students should start preparing their written report. The report must be in line with the presentation and address each phase of stellar evolution in detail, providing theoretical explanations and detailed discussions of each phase.

5. Review and Submission: The activity ends with a final review of the work. The group should check the presentation and report to ensure they are accurate, clear, and complete. After the review, students submit the presentation and report as the conclusion of the project.

Project Delivery

The final outcome of this project will be a digital presentation with 10-15 slides, accompanied by a written report. The presentation should include a sequence of images or graphics that illustrate stellar evolution, with brief descriptions or explanations for each slide. The written report should complement the presentation with an in-depth discussion of each phase of stellar evolution, providing theoretical explanations and discussing the processes in detail.

The report should be structured into four main topics: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography. In the Introduction, students should contextualize the topic of stellar evolution, its relevance and real-world applications, as well as the objective of this project. In Development, students should discuss the theory behind stellar evolution, explain the activity in detail, indicate the methodology used, and finally present the results of the presentation. In Conclusions, students should recap their main points, articulate the learnings obtained, and draw conclusions about the project. Finally, in Bibliography, students should indicate the sources they relied on to work on the project.