Near-Earth supernova

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/near-earth-supernova

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the critical distance for ozone depletion?Estimated range of 25-100 light-years for significant gamma-ray flux impact
2. Why could a near-Earth supernova be dangerous?The explosion sends high‑energy particles and gamma rays that could damage Earth's ozone layer, letting more harmful ultraviolet light reach the surface and hurting living things.
3. How close does a supernova need to be to affect Earth?If it happens between about 25 and 100 light‑years away, the radiation could be strong enough to harm life on Earth.

Type II Supernova: Explosion of a massive star resulting from core collapse after exhausting nuclear fuel.
Galactic Chemical Evolution: The process by which the abundance of chemical elements in a galaxy changes over time.
Supernova Remnant: The expanding cloud of gas and dust left behind after a supernova explosion.
Nucleosynthesis: The process by which new atomic nuclei are created from pre-existing nucleons and nuclei.