12

BIG BANG AND THE

FORMATION OF LIGHT
ELEMENTS IN THE
UNIVERSE

Physical Science module

S.Y. 2023-2024
Module 1- Week 1
 Lesson
Cosmology and Big Bang Theory
1

The big bang theory is the leading explanation about how the universe began 13.8
billion years ago. This theory explains that the universe started as a very dense and
hot state that expanded rapidly.
This rapid expansion caused the universe to cool down and become less dense
forming new particles, the protons, neutrons and electrons. As it cooled down and these
particles formed, the universe entered the phase called nucleosynthesis. Nucleosynthesis is
the process that creates new atomic nucleus from pre-existing nucleons, primarily
protons and neutrons.

Learning objective/s

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Give evidence for and explain the formation of light elements in the big bang
theory.
2. Enumerate the steps involved in the nuclear fusion and model them.
3. Recognize the role played by nuclear fusion in stars and how it affects our
everyday lives
1.

Explore

Reflect upon the following:

You might also be asking the same questions ever since you were little that until
now you still seek answers for. Well, this module will help you understand some of the
important concepts about stars.

How was the universe formed? How were the elements formed? Have you
also wondered what stars are made of? What keeps them shining so bright?
Are there also stars that do not spark?
 With your prior knowledge, what do you think are the different theories that govern
the origin of the universe?
 Deepen

COSMOLOGY AND THE BIG BANG MODEL

Cosmology is the study of how the universe began, how it continue to exist, and
how it will end. Different religions and cultures have different interpretations about cosmology
based on their beliefs. Do you think there is a proof that any of these cosmologies
are true?
Science brings forth a cosmological theory not from beliefs but from scientific evidence
that universe once began to expand and continues to expand until today. This theory is called
the Big Bang theory or Big Bang model. Astronomers George Lemaitre and Edwin Hubble
were some of its proponents. George Lemaitre is also a catholic priest but he did not find
his theory or science incompatible with his religion. Why is it that some people think that
science goes against what they believe in?

Key Stages of the Big Bang Model

Figure 1.1 Big bang timeline
a. The universe may have begun as an
infinitely hot and dense initial
singularity, a point with all of space,
time, matter and energy. There is no
space around the singularity.
b. Then it began to rapidly expand in a
process called inflation. Space itself
expanded faster than a speed of light.
In this still hot and dense mass of the
universe, pairs of matter and antimatter
(quarks and antiquarks were formed from
energy, but these cancelled each other
back into energy (annihilation).
c. The universe cooled down as it
expanded. An excess of
matter –
electrons, protons and neutrons and other particles came to be in a highly energetic state.
Photons (light particles) are being scattered everywhere. Protons and neutrons came
together to form different types of nuclei through the process called nucleosynthesis and
nuclear fusion.
d. Later on, electrons started to bind to ionize protons and nuclei forming neutral atoms in a
process called recombination. The bound particles no longer scattered photons so light and
energy moved freely across the space. This period is called “dark ages”.
e. Gravity caused these atoms to collapse onto one another to form stars and galaxies and
other matter. This still happens until today. Space continue to expand at an accelerating
rate.
Cosmic Inflation
This refers to the expansion of the universe. How does the universe expand? Could
you imagine if the earth is expanding meaning becoming bigger, would you think we are
now more nearer to the sun? If we go nearer to the sun, what will happen to us? The
expansion of the universe can be explained in an illustration in inflating a balloon. Figure 1.2
below, illustrates how the universe expands, in what directions it is going into and to
how much bigger is the expansion.
In the figure, the circle is the balloon represents the universe, the stickers are the
galaxies. Galaxies are group or cluster of stars including planets. Our planet earth, the solar
system, belongs to one cluster or galaxy called the Milky Way. We belong to Milky Way.
There are so many billions of galaxies in the universe.

Let’s investigate

Activity 1: Expansion of the Universe

1. Start with a balloon at its normal which means no air inside. Paste a small
rounded stickers in 1 cm or 2cm apart. Notice the distances from each other,
designate a letter to identify the reference points (ist circle).
2. Blow the balloon to at least half in size, notice the positioning of the stickers from each
other, notice the distances (2nd circle). Observe.
3. Do the stickers appear to be moving away from each other? Are the stickers
moving across the balloons? Do the stickers grow in size?
4. Blow again the balloon to its fullest, notice again the positioning of the stickers
from each other, notice the distances 3rd circle).
5. Did the positioning of the stickers (galaxies) from each which varies? by how
much?
6. What is the direction of expansion?
7. Back to the question, would you think during the expansion the distances of the
planet changes? Like our distance to the sun Yes or No, why?

Figure 1.2

8. What can you conclude about the expansion of the universe based on the
activity?
9. Write your observation and answers in your notebook
 Further discussion

OVERVIEW ON THE PROOF OF A BIG BANG MODEL

What are the proofs that there was really a big bang?
1. Redshift is the first evidence of the big bang model. Using different instrument
can enable us to detect the light of other galaxies. It was found out that the
light of galaxies is found to be redshifted (the light
looks “stretched”) which suggests that galaxies are moving away from each other
(red light has a longer wavelength which shows going away compared to blue
light we see in the skies with a shorter wavelength which means nearer). It
was later determined that they are not moving away instead space itself is
expanding in all directions causing all the galaxies to be relatively farther
apart.

2. The relative abundance of light elements in the universe is the second

evidence to prove. Through measurements, we find that around 24% of the
universe’s ordinary matter is currently comprised of helium, about 74% hydrogen
and 2% of other elements. These figures only make sense if nucleosynthesis
in the big bang model actually occurred since no chemical process significantly
changes these percentages.

3. Cosmic Microwave background or the energy (thermal radiation) that was left as
a result of recombination. Atoms became neutral due to the binding of nuclei and
electrons. The remaining radiation began to scatter. This is seen by scientists as
a faint microwave glow emitted by any object in space.

THE BIG BANG NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

Nucleosynthesis is the process that creates new atomic nucleus from preexisting
nucleons, primarily protons and neutrons. Big bang nucleosynthesis in physical cosmology
refers to the production of nuclei other than H-1, the normal, light hydrogen, during the early
phases of the universe, shortly after the big bang. How does free proton (p+) and neutron
(n) would combine and separate from each other due to the high energies at that
time?
The composition of nuclei is given below in Figure 1.3. D and T are isotopes of
hydrogen namely deuterium and tritium respectively, other elements are helium, beryllium
and lithium. Isotopes are form of an element that has the same atomic number of
the original element but with a different atomic mass or mass number. For Hydrogen
there are three isotopes namely protium (P), deuterium (D) and tritium (T).
Figure 1.3 Composition of nuclei
 Due to rapid cooling due to expansion, nucleosynthesis halted for about three
minutes after the big bang occurred which left mostly of hydrogen(H) isotopes (P,D,T),
helium (He) isotopes and a very tiny bit of other elements like lithium(Li) and
beryllium(Be). The relative abundance of He and H did not change much today.

Two nuclear reactions happened during big bang nucleosynthesis (Fig.1.4).

1. combination of proton (p) and neutron (n) produces deuterium (D) nuclei and and
gamma (γ) rays.

p+ + n = D + (γ) , ( D is composed of 1p and 1n).

(p + n)

2. Then two deuterium nuclei combine to form one neutron and helium-3(³He) that

D + D = ³He + n
(p + n) (p + n) (2p + n)

has two protons and one neutron.

The two equations reaction above shows a

balanced equation of the reactants at the left with
the product at the right. Which means the no. of
p and n on both sides of the equation is the
same.

Figure 1.4

Nuclear Fusion
The energy and temperature of the universe are extremely high to cause the
neutrons and protons to combine and form species of atomic nuclei in a process called
nuclear fusion. Nuclear
fusion is a type of nuclear reaction in which the light
nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus. When
this happens, a tremendous amount of energy is
released.

An example of nuclear fusion (Figure 1.5):

deuterium (with one neutron and one proton) fuses
with tritium (with one proton and two neutrons)
producing a helium nuclei and a neutron, and
releasing energy.
In equation, D + T = 4He + n
(p + n) (p + 2n) (2p +2n)
Formation of light elements
Light elements which includes Hydrogen (H), Helium (He), and small amounts of
Beryllium (Be) and Lithium (Li) were formed through nuclear fusion in the big bang
nucleosynthesis. The isotopes produced were H-1, H-2, H-3, He-4 and Li-7. After
fusion, the total mass of the light nuclei formed in the fusion process is less than the
total mass of the nuclei that fused. Nuclear fusion reactions are accompanied with
tremendous release of energy.

Figure 1.6

Figure 1.6 shows the nuclear equation for the fusion reactions that took place during
the big bang nucleosynthesis. These main nuclear reactions were responsible for the
abundance of lighter nuclei in the universe

What have I learned so far?

A. Multiple Choice.
Direction: Select the best answer. Write the letter on a separate answer sheet.
1. It refers to a process in the stages of the big bang model wherein protons
and neutrons came together to form different types of nuclei?
a. big bang singularity c. nucleosynthesis
b. inflation d. recombination

2. It refers to a process in the stages of the big bang model wherein the
universe rapidly expand?
a. big bang singularity c. nucleosynthesis
b. inflation d. recombination

3. It refers to the first stage of the big bang model wherein it begun as an
infinitely hot and dense?
a. big bang singularity b. b i g b a n g nucleosynthesis
 4. It refers to a process in the stages of the big bang model wherein electrons
started to bind to ionize protons and nuclei forming neutral atoms?
a. big bang singularity c. nucleosynthesis
b. inflation d. recombination

5. Arrange the stages of the big bang theory:

1-recombination 2- big bang singularity 3-
inflation 4-nucleosynthesis

a. 2314 b. 2341 c. 3241 d. 3412

6. Which of these is true about the big bang model?
a. The singularity is an established, well-defined part of the model
b. Cosmic expansion stopped at some point in time
c. Part of its proof is the amounts of H and He we have in the universe
today.
d. Part of its proof is the amounts of H and He we have in the universe
today.

B. Irregular Crossword Puzzle

Direction: Complete the crossword by filling in a word that fits its clue. Use a separate
answer sheet.

ACROSS
1 2
1- light nuclei fuse together to form to a
heavier nucleus
2- subatomic particle with a positive
charge
3 2 4 3- isotope of hydrogen with 1 proton
3
and 1 neutron
4- the lightest element
5- isotope of hydrogen with I proton and 2
4 5 neutrons
6- with a negative charge
8
7- symbol for lithium
8- symbol for helium
5
DOWN

6
1- creates new atomic nucleus from
preexisting nucleons
2- subatomic particle with a zero charge
7 3- symbol for beryllium
4- densely part of an atom containing p
and n
5- ability to do work
C. Complete the nucleosynthesis reactions below

Given: Composition of each nuclei:

a. D= 1p+, 1n c. He3 = 2p+,1n e. T=1p+,2n

b. Be7 = 4p+,3n d. He4 = 2p+,2n f. Li7 = 3p+,4n

1. p+ + n = + γ
2. 3He + D = + p+
3. 7Li + = 2 He
4

4. + D = T + p+
5. + = 7Be + γ

D. Sentence Completion. Fill in the missing words to complete the sentences.

1. Big bang nucleosynthesis is the formation of new atomic nucleus from preexisting
.
2. is a nuclear reaction wherein light nuclei fuse together to form
heavier nuclei.
3. is a form of element that has the same atomic number but
different atomic mass.
4. and are isotope of Hydrogen.
5. The fusion of proton and neutron resulted to .
6. The fusion of two deuterium produces .
7. The fusion of deuterium and tritium resulted to .
8. The light elements formed in big bang nucleosynthesis are ,
, and .
9. There are three evidences to prove that a big bang had occurred that is ,
, and .
10. The expansion of the universe means expansion of between
galaxies. Galaxies moves farther apart from each other proportionately in all
directions.
REFLECT UPON
What could happen if there is no nucleosynthesis and nuclear fusion?
What could happen if light elements were not formed?