1. Approximately how long does it take for the Moon to make one complete orbit of the Earth?
A
24 hours
B
1 month
C
1 season
D
1 year
0625_m23_qp22
2. Which row about the orbits of the Earth and Moon are correct?
0625_s23_qp23
3. Which data is needed to calculate the average orbital speed of a satellite around a planet?
0625_m23_qp22
4. The orbit of the Moon around the Earth is modelled as a circular path of radius 3.8 x 105 km.
The orbital period is 29.5 days (710 hours).
What is the orbital speed of the Moon?
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5. A space station orbits the Earth at a distance of 7000 km from the Earth's centre. It makes 15
orbits in every 24-hour period.
What is the speed of the space station in its orbit?
A
2900 km/h
B
4400 km/h
C
8800 km/h
D
27000 km/h
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6. The time taken for Mars to orbit the Sun is 690 Earth days. The average orbital radius of
Mars is 2.28 x 108 km. An Earth day is 24 h.
Calculate the average orbital speed of Mars in km/s.
average speed = …………………………………[3]
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7. (a) State the equation that defines the average orbital speed, v, of a planet. State the meaning of
any symbols you use.
.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………
.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]
(b) Suggest why countries that are a significant distance from the Equator experience significant
temperature variation throughout the year.
…………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………
….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]
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1. Which planet orbits the Sun between Mars and Saturn?
A
Earth
B
Jupiter
C
Mercury
D
Neptune
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2. Which planet in our Solar System is nearest to the Sun and what is the nature of the planet?
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3. Which statement about the Solar System is correct?
A
All of the planets are rocky.
B
Only the Earth has a moon.
C
Pluto is a dwarf planet.
D
There are many stars in the Solar System.
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4. Which statement about the orbits of comets is correct?
A
Comets have elliptical orbits and the Sun is at the centre of the orbit.
B
Comets have elliptical orbits and the Sun is not at the centre of the orbit.
C
Comets have circular orbits and the Sun is at the centre of the orbit.
D
Comets have circular orbits and the Sun is not at the centre of the orbit.
0625_s23_qp23
5. Comets are bodies which orbit the Sun in the Solar System.
What is the shape of the orbit and how is the Sun positioned within the orbit?
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6. The Sun has a mass of 2.0 x 1030 kg.
Which element accounts for most of this mass?
A
carbon
B
hydrogen
C
oxygen
D
uranium
0625_m23_qp12
7. Which type of object orbits the Sun?
A
an interstellar cloud of gas and dust
B
a comet
C
a galaxy
D
another star
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8. (a) State, in order, the names of the three planets closest to the Sun
Closest to the Sun
…………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………..
Furthest from the Sun ………………………………………………………………………….
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[2]
(b) State the shape of the orbits of the planets.
….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..[1]
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9. The diagram shows how people 1000 years ago thought the Solar System looked.
(a) State one way in which this model is different from what we now know about the Solar
System.
.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]
(b) State one way in which this model is similar to what we now know about the Solar System.
.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]
(c) State one way in which the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are similar
.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]
(d) State one way in which Jupiter and Saturn are different to the planets in part c.
.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]
(e) Mars is 228 million km from the Sun. Calculate the time it takes for light to travel from the
Sun to Mars. The speed of light is 3 x 108 m/s. Give your answer in minutes.
(textbook)
time = ………………………………………..[3]
10. Fig. 9.1 shows the Sun as the central dot and the planets Saturn, Jupiter and Earth labelled S0,
J0 and E0. The planets orbit the Sun anticlockwise. From the Earth's orbit, the planets appear
aligned.
Fig. 9.1
Assume that Saturn takes 30 years to orbit the Sun and that Jupiter takes 12 years to orbit the
Sun.
(a) On Fig. 9.1, mark the positions of Saturn and Jupiter 5.0 years after the original positions
shown.
Label these positions S1 and J1. Show your working
[3]
(b) (i) On Fig. 9.1, mark the positions of Saturn and Jupiter 20 years after the original positions
shown in Fig. 9.1.
Label these positions S2 and J2.
[1]
(ii) State what is observed from the Earth's orbit after 20 years.
...........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(c) (i) Choose two words from the list to describe each planet.
gaseous
large
rocky
small
Jupiter ...............................................................................................................................
Earth ..................................................................................................................................
[1]
(ii) The average density of Jupiter is much less than that of the Earth.
The gravitational field strength at the surface of Jupiter is greater than that at the surface
of the Earth.
Explain how these differences in density and in gravitational field strength are consistent
with your answers to (c) (i).
density
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
gravitational field strength
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
[3]
(d) The average density of Jupiter is 1300kg/m3 and its volume is 1.4 × 1015 km3.
Calculate the mass of Jupiter.
mass = ......................................................... [3]
[Total: 12]
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11. Pluto is a dwarf planet. Fig. 8.1 shows the direction of motion of Pluto as it follows its
elliptical orbit around the Sun.
Fig. 8.1
(a) Point X is the point in the orbit closest to the Sun and point Y is the point furthest away.
The orbital speed of Pluto varies as it orbits the Sun.
(i) Describe how the speed of Pluto varies as moves from X to Y and then back to X.
.……………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]
(ii) Explain, in terms of energy transfers, why the speed of Pluto varies in this way.
.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
.………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………
.…………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………
.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[3]
(b) The average temperature on the surface of Pluto is 43K.
(i) Convert this temperature to a value in degrees Celsius (oC)
temperature = ………………………………oC [1]
(ii) Pluto has a white surface, as shown in Fig. 8.2. As Pluto rotates, the white surface
alternately faces towards and away from the Sun.
Fig. 8.2
Explain how this affects the temperature of Pluto as it rotates on its own axis.
.
.
.
...........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [2]
[Total: 7]
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12. Laurie is standing at point X on the Earth's surface.
(a) How can you tell it is night time at point X?
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
(b) Redraw the diagram to show where point X will be after 12 hours.
[1]
(c) The Moon does not emit light. Explain how Laurie is able to see the moon.
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
(d) Name the force that keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth.
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
(e) Describe the movement of the Moon.
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
(f) A ball dropped on Earth will fall faster than than an identical ball dropped on the Moon.
What does this tell you about the Moon's gravity?
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
Total [6]
(Textbook)
13. The table shows some data about the objects orbiting the Sun.
Use the information in the table to answer the following questions.
(a) Name the object that is not a planet.
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
(b) Which planet takes the least time to go around the Sun?
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
(c) A student writes "the further away from the Sun a planet it, the lower its density". To what
extent do you agree with this statement? (HInt: Pluto is not a planet.)
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................ [2]
(d) What data from the table suggests that Pluto and Mars are the two least massive objects?
................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................ [2]
(e) Calculate the average orbital speed of Jupiter. Give your answer in km/s to two significant
figures.
(Textbook)
[3]
Total [9]
14. Fig 14.1 represents part of the Solar System.
Fig. 14.1 (not to scale)
(a) (i) State the name of planet A and the name of planet B.
Planet A …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Planet B …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
[2]
(ii) On Fig. 14.1, draw an X to represent a moon of Jupiter. Draw a line to show how this
moon moves.
(iii) State two ways in which the four planets nearest to the Sun are different from the four
planets furthest away from the Sun.
1
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
[2]
(iv) Complete the following sentences:
The galaxy that includes the Solar System is called the ................................................. .
The ........................................ includes billions of galaxies.
(b) The distance between the Sun and the Earth is 1.5 × 1011m.
The speed of an electromagnetic wave is 3.0 × 108m/ s.
[2]
Calculate the time taken for an electromagnetic wave to travel from the Sun to the Earth.
time taken = ...................................................... s [3]
[Total: 10]
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1. The Sun consists mostly of two elements.
What are these two elements?
A
helium and nitrogen
B
hydrogen and helium
C
hydrogen and oxygen
D
oxygen and nitrogen
0625_s23_qp11
2. Which nuclear reaction powers a stable star?
A
nuclear fission of nuclei producing hydrogen
B
nuclear fission of a uranium nucleus into a krypton nucleus and a barium nucleus
C
nuclear fusion of a krypton nucleus and a barium nucleus into a uranium nucleus
D
nuclear fusion of hydrogen nuclei producing helium
0625_s23_qp21
3. Which row describes the power source for a stable star?
0625_s23_qp23
4. The Sun transfers energy to the Earth through electromagnetic radiation.
What are two parts of the electromagnetic spectrum to which most of the energy belongs?
A
gamma rays and X-rays
B
infrared radiation and visible light
C
microwaves and visible light
D
radio waves and microwaves
0625_w23_qp12
5. Which statement about the Sun is correct?
A
The Sun is a dwarf star consisting mostly of hydrogen and oxygen.
B
The Sun is a giant star consisting mostly of helium and carbon dioxide.
C
The Sun is a medium-sized star consisting mostly of hydrogen and helium.
D
The Sun is a medium-sized star consisting mostly of nitrogen and oxygen.
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6. The energy generated in stable stars comes from nuclear reactions.
Which type of reaction occurs in the Sun?
A
Helium nuclei break up to give hydrogen nuclei.
B
Helium nuclei join together to form hydrogen nuclei.
C
Hydrogen nuclei break up to give helium nuclei.
D
Hydrogen nuclei join together to form helium nuclei.
0625_m23_qp22
7. Which nuclear reaction produces the release of energy to power a star?
A
nuclear fission of helium into hydrogen
B
nuclear fission of hydrogen into helium
C
nuclear fusion of helium into hydrogen
D
nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium
0625_s23_qp22
8. The graph shows the energy radiated by the Sun at different wavelengths. Most of the energy is
radiated in just three parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, labelled P, Q and R.
Which parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are P and R?
1. Which quantity does a light-year measure?
A
an angle
B
a distance
C
a speed
D
a time
2. What is a light year?
A
the distance light travels in one year
B
366 days
C
the time it takes light to travel in one year
D
1.44 x 1011 m
3. The nearest star to the Sun is Proxima Centauri at a distance of 4.2 light years.
Which statements are correct?
1. Telescope images of Proxima Centauri show it as it was 4.2 million years ago.
2. If a spacecraft near Proxima Centauri sent a radio message to the Earth, it
would take 4.2 years to arrive.
3. Proxima Centauri is outside the Milky Way galaxy.
A
1. 2 and 3
B
1 and 2 only
C
1 and 3 only
D
2 and 3 only
0625_m23_qp21
4. Which stages in the life cycle of a star are listed in the order that they occur?
A
interstellar dust cloud → stable star → protostar
B
protostar → red giant → stable star
C
red giant → white dwarf → protostar
D
stable star → red giant → white dwarf
0625_s23_qp21
5. Which of the following is not a star?
A
neutron star
B
white dwarf
C
supernova
D
red giant
6. Describe and explain how a stable star is formed.
….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[3]
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7. (a) Define a light-year.
.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]
(b) Jupiter is 780 000 000 000 m (7.8 x 1011 m) from the Sun.
The speed of light is 300 000 000 m / s (3.0 x 108 m / s).
Calculate the time for light to travel from the Sun to Jupiter.
0625_m23_qp32
time = ………………………………………………s [2]
Total [4]
8. Show that 1 light-year = 9.5 × 1015 m.
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[4]
9. Fill in the gaps in the paragraph about a star much more massive than the Sun.
The stage that follows the stable state in the life cycle of the star is the
....................................... stage.
It then explodes as a supernova to form a ....................................... , this leaves behind a
....................................... or a ........................................
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[4]
1. What provides evidence that the Universe is expanding?
A
Stars in galaxies outside the Milky Way are all red.
B
The Andromeda galaxy is moving toward the Milky Way.
C
Light from distant galaxies is shifted to longer wavelengths
D
The Universe is 14 billion years old.
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2. An astronomer observes redshift in the light from a distant galaxy.
Which statement about redshift is correct?
A
It is the decrease in the observed wavelength of red light emitted from receding galaxies.
B
It is evidence that the Universe is contracting and supports the Big Bang Theory.
C
It is evidence that the Universe is expanding and supports the Big Bang Theory.
D
Redshift is when light from receding galaxies appears blue.
0625_s23_qp12
3. Which statement describes redshift?
A
All the light emitted from all distant galaxies is at the red end of the spectrum.
B
All the light emitted by a star in the Milky Way is at the red end of the spectrum.
C
The light from all the stars in the Milky Way is moved towards the red end of the spectrum.
D
The light from stars in all distant galaxies is moved toward the red end of the spectrum.
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4. Which statement does not describe redshift?
A
All the light emitted from all distant galaxies is at the red end of the spectrum.
B
The light arriving at the Earth from a receding star is always redshifted.
C
During redshift, the wavelength of the observed light is longer than it is if the redshift had not
occurred.
D
The light from stars in all distant galaxies is moved towards the red end of the spectrum.
0625_y23_sp2
5. Which quantity can be determined using the brightness of a supernova in a distant
galaxy?
A
the speed at which the galaxy is moving away from the Earth
B
the distance of the galaxy from Earth
C
the Hubble constant
D
the age of the Universe
0625_s23_qp23
6. What is the definition of the Hubble constant?
A
the ratio of the speed at which a galaxy is receding from the Earth to its distance
from the Earth
B
the value of the change in wavelength of the galaxy's starlight due to redshift
C
the constant used to represent the rate of expansion of the Universe in all directions
D
the estimated constant equal to the age of the Universe
0625_s23_qp22
7. Two quantities define the Hubble constant H0.

the speed at which the galaxy is moving away from the Earth, v

the distance of the galaxy from the Earth, d
What is the relationship between v and d and what is the current estimate for H0.?
0625_m23_qp22
8. Which of the following is not evidence of the Big Bang?
A
cosmic microwave background radiation everywhere
B
galaxies are moving closer together
C
stars that are redshifted
D
the Universe is expanding
9. (a) What do we call a large group of stars?
.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]
(b) What force causes these groups to form?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]
(c) What is the name of the group of stars where we live?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]
(d) How many other groups of stars do we think exist in the Universe?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]
(textbook)
10. Light from a distant galaxy is redshifted.
(a) Explain what is meant by redshift.
.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[2]
(b) State the quantity that the redshift of a galaxy is used to calculate.
.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]
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11. Describe and explain what can be deduced from cosmic microwave background radiation
(CMBR).
.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
.…………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………
.…………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………
.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………….[2]
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12. (a) (i) State one measurement that is taken when determining the speed v at which a galaxy is
moving away from the Earth.
...........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Write down an equation relating v and the distance d of a far galaxy.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) State how the distance d of a far galaxy can be determined other than by using the
equation in (ii).
.
..........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
[Total: 7]
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13. A galaxy is moving away from the Earth with a speed of 33 000 km / s.
The value of the Hubble constant is 2.2 x 10-18 per second.
Calculate the distance from the galaxy to the Earth. Give your answer in light-years.
distance = ……………………………………………….. light-years
0625_s23_qp42
[2]
14. (a) What causes the redshift in the light arriving from distant galaxies.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[2]
(b) The table shows data for a parallel universe.Plot a graph of recessional speed (in km/s)
versus distance (million light years) to each galaxy for this parallel universe
[3]
(c) Use the graph you plotted to find the Hubble constant, making it clear how you did it.
(d) Find the age of this fictional Universe.
[2]
[2]
Total [9]
15. Describe the life cycle of the Sun from how it formed until the point at which it runs out of fuel.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[5]
16. What is the Big Bang Theory and what evidence is there to support it?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[5]