Listen&Learn: How Elements Are Made
Posted by: Jaksyn PeacockPre-listening vocabulary
- element: one of the basic substances found on the periodic table
- abundant: existing in large amounts
- core: the centre of a planet or star
- fuse: to create something new by joining multiple things together
- collapse: to violently fall inward
- dense: containing a lot of material in a very small area
- remnant: a leftover piece of something that has been destroyed
Listening activity
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Gapfill exercise
Comprehension questions
See answers below
- The most abundant elements in the universe are
a. hydrogen and helium
b. hydrogen and carbon
c. helium and oxygen - During its life, a star can’t use nuclear fusion to create
a. helium
b. iron
c. gold - Heavy elements can be made in a collision between two
a. planets
b. comets
c. neutron stars
Discussion/essay questions
- Scientists are beginning to experiment with nuclear fusion as a possible power source. Current nuclear power plants use a process called nuclear fission, which does not produce as much energy. What do you think about nuclear power? Do you think it will help or harm the environment? Why?
Transcript
The simplest chemical elements in the universe, hydrogen and helium, originally formed during the Big Bang. These are the most abundant elements out there. The cores of stars can make more helium through a process called nuclear fusion, where enough energy forces the centres of atoms together to make more complex atoms. Other light elements, like oxygen and carbon, also originate from this process. Iron is the heaviest element that a star can fuse. This usually happens near the very end of the star’s life. There are two ways that heavier elements are made. The first is when stars, especially massive stars, collapse and die. The second is in a collision between two extremely dense star remnants, called neutron stars. These events create enough energy to fuse elements like lead and gold.
Answers to comprehension questions
1a 2c 3c
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7 comments
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English Club Indonesia says:
Nuclear power is dangerous if safety factors are ignored. There have been several cases of failed nuclear power plants already. I can’t deny that this energy source is cleaner than other sources, such as fossil fuels. However, the cost of building and maintaining nuclear power plants is not cheap either.
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Noemia levy says:
It’s amazing to learn important information and still improve our English. I am very grateful!
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Thet Lwin Tun says:
i am not afaird about anything about what happen because they are very carefully about safety. i think it is good for future generation and business side
Nuclear power generation is a challenge to mitigating climate change, so it’s important to be careful in preventing water and soil pollution. -
abdalmonamshqyrat says:
I liks yor teach
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Hachadi fatma says:
Send me reponses please
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Md. Anisur Rahman Bhuiyan says:
Very excellent
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David says:
Nuclear fusion can use abundant light elements to produce much more energy compare nuclear fission.