How do supernovae recycle matter?
1 Answer
Mar 8, 2016
Supernovae are important for creating the heavier elements.
Explanation:
The majority of matter in the universe is hydrogen and secondly helium.
Most stars convert hydrogen into helium by nuclear fusion.
More massive stars use the Carbon-Nitrogen-Oxygen fusion process to convert hydrogen into helium.
In order to produce the more heavy elements a lot more energy is required and supernovae provide the energy to do this. The fusion process liberates energy until the nucleus is iron/nickel after this fusion requires more energy to create nuclei than is released.
Supernovae have the energy to produce the heavier elements using processes such as neutron capture.
