Question

Which type of star death causes elements to travel into space?
Group of answer choices

a supernova

a black hole

a pulsar

a planetary nebula

Answer 1

The type of star death that causes elements to travel into space is **a supernova**. During a supernova explosion, a massive star ejects its outer layers into space, dispersing elements formed in the star and during the explosion across the cosmos. This process enriches the interstellar medium with heavy elements, which can later contribute to the formation of new stars and planetary systems.

While a **planetary nebula** also disperses elements into space, it is typically associated with the death of smaller stars (like our Sun) and the ejection of their outer layers. In contrast, a supernova is more powerful and is related to the deaths of massive stars.

So the best answer is **a supernova**.