EXAM QUESTIONS

AQA TRILOGY

SPACE

Q1-6 FOUNDATON

Q3-9 HIGHER

MARK SCHEME AT THE END OF

ALL THE QUESTIONS

Page 1 of 24
Q1.
(a)  The Sun is a star.

Which galaxy is the Sun in?

Tick one box.

Cartwheel

Milky Way

Starburst

Tadpole

(1)

(b)  Light takes 500 seconds to travel from the Sun to the Earth.

Light travels at 300 000 kilometres per second.

Calculate the distance between the Sun and the Earth.

Use the equation:

distance = speed × time

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Distance = ____________________ kilometres

(2)

The table below gives information about some of the planets in our solar system.

The planets are in order of increasing distance from the Sun.

Time to orbit the Sun in

Planet
years

Mercury 0.2

Venus 0.6

Earth 1.0

Mars

Page 2 of 24
 Jupiter 12.0

(c)  There are some planets in our solar system missing from the table above.

How many planets are missing?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(d)  Estimate how many years it takes Mars to orbit the Sun.

___________________ years
(1)

(e)  Calculate how many times Venus will orbit the Sun in 9 years.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

In 9 years, Venus will orbit the Sun ___________________ times.

(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Q2.
The figure below shows what scientists over 1000 years ago thought the solar system was
like.

(a) Give one way that the historical model of the solar system shown in the figure
above is different from what we now know about the solar system.

Page 3 of 24
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Give one way that the solar system shown in the figure above is the same as what
we now know about the solar system.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) The first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth was launched into space in 1957.

Describe the orbit of an artificial satellite.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(d) What provides the force needed to keep a satellite in its orbit?

Tick one box.

friction

gravity

tension

(1)

(e) All stars go through a lifecycle.

The star Mira will go through a supernova stage in its lifecycle but the Sun will not.

How is the star Mira different to the Sun?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

Q3.
(a) The figure below shows how a star is formed.
Use one answer from each box to complete the sentences.

Page 4 of 24
 (3)

(b) Elements heavier than iron are formed in a supernova.

What is a supernova?

Tick (✔) one box.

the explosion of a massive star

a very bright, hot young star

a very cool super giant star

(1)

(c) Brown dwarf stars are small stars too cool to give out visible light. They were first
discovered in 1995. Scientists think that there are millions of these stars spread
throughout the Universe.

Which one of the following is the most likely reason why brown dwarf stars were not
discovered before 1995?

Tick (✔) one box.

Brown dwarf stars did not exist before 1995.

Page 5 of 24
 Scientists were looking in the wrong part of the Universe.

The telescopes and measuring instruments were not

sensitive enough.
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

Q4.
The early Universe contained only the lightest element.

(a) Use the correct answer from the box to complete the sentence.

hydrogen iron uranium

The early Universe contained only _______________________ .

(1)

(b) Use the correct answer from the box to complete the sentence.

main sequence star protostar supernova

The heaviest elements are formed only in a ________________________ .

(1)

(c) Use the correct answer from the box to complete the sentence.

red giant red super giant white dwarf

Only a star much bigger than the Sun can become a __________________ .
(1)

(d) The Universe now contains a large variety of different elements.

Describe how this happened.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 6 of 24
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(4)
(Total 7 marks)

Q5.
In 1929, the astronomer Edwin Hubble observed that the light from galaxies moving away
from the Earth had longer wavelengths than expected.

(a) What name is given to this effect?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) From his observations, Hubble was able to calculate the speed of a galaxy and the
distance of the galaxy from the Earth.

Figure 1 shows the results of Hubble’s calculations.

Figure 1

What relationship between the speed of a galaxy and the distance is suggested by
Hubble’s results?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

The observations made by Hubble support the idea that the Universe is expanding. This
means that galaxies are continually moving away from each other and from the Earth.

Page 7 of 24
Figure 2 shows a student using a balloon to model the idea of an expanding Universe.

Some dots, which represent galaxies, were marked on the balloon.

The balloon was then inflated.

Figure 2

(c) Give one strength and one weakness of this model in representing the idea of an
expanding Universe.

Strength ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Weakness _________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

In the 1950s there were two main theories to explain how the Universe began.

(d) In what way do the observations made by Hubble support both Theory 1 and Theory
2?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(e) Most scientists now believe that Theory 2 is correct.

Suggest what is likely to have caused scientists to start thinking Theory 1 is wrong.

___________________________________________________________________

Page 8 of 24
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 6 marks)

Q6.
A teacher demonstrates the production of circular waves in a ripple tank.

Diagram 1 shows the waves at an instant in time.

Diagram 1

(a) Show on Diagram 1 the wavelength of the waves.

(1)

(b) The teacher moves the source of the waves across the ripple tank.

Diagram 2 shows the waves at an instant in time.

Diagram 2
(Actual size)

Page 9 of 24
 (i) Use the correct answer from the box to complete each sentence.

decreased increased stayed the same

In Diagram 2, the observed wavelength of the waves at X

has ___________________________________ .

In Diagram 2, the frequency of the waves at X

has ___________________________________ .
(2)

(ii) Take measurements from Diagram 2 to determine the wavelength of the

waves received at X.

Give the unit.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Wavelength = ________________
(3)

(c) The teacher uses the waves in the ripple tank to model the changes in the
wavelengths of light observed from distant galaxies.

When observed from the Earth, there is an increase in the wavelength of light from
distant galaxies.

(i) State the name of this effect.

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) What does this increase in wavelength tell us about the movement of most
galaxies?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(iii) Explain how this observation supports the Big Bang theory of the formation of
the Universe.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Page 10 of 24
 ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(4)

(iv) State one other piece of evidence that supports the Big Bang theory of the
formation of the Universe.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 13 marks)

Q7.
A satellite is in a circular orbit around the Earth.

Figure 1 shows the velocity of the satellite at two different positions in the orbit.

Figure 1

(a)  Explain why the velocity of the satellite changes as it orbits the Earth.

___________________________________________________________________

Page 11 of 24
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(b)  Figure 2 shows how the length of a satellite orbit depends on the height of the
satellite above the Earth’s surface.

Figure 2

A satellite orbits 300 km above the Earth’s surface at a speed of 7.73 km/s.

Calculate how many complete orbits of the Earth the satellite will make in 24 hours.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Number of complete orbits = __________________________

Page 12 of 24
 (5)

In 1772, an astronomer called J Bode developed an equation to predict the orbital radii of
the planets around the Sun.

The table shows Bode’s predicted orbital radii and the actual orbital radii for the planets
that were known in 1772.

Predicted orbital Actual orbital

Planet radius in millions radius in millions
of kilometres of kilometres

Mercury 60 58

Venus 105 108

Earth 150 150

Mars 240 228

Jupiter 780 778

Saturn 1500 1430

(c)  The predicted data can be considered to be accurate.

Give the reason why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(d)  J Bode used his equation to predict the existence of a planet with an orbital radius of
2940 million kilometres.

The planet Uranus was discovered in 1781.

Uranus has an orbital radius of 2875 million kilometres.

Explain why the discovery of Uranus was important.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 11 marks)

Q8.
(a) Observation of the spectra from distant galaxies provides evidence to support the
‘Big Bang’ theory.

(i) Complete the following sentence.

Page 13 of 24
 Many scientists think that the ‘Big Bang’ theory describes the ____________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) Tick ( ) one box to complete the sentence.

The discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation was important

because it ...

proved the ‘Big Bang’ theory to be correct.

provided more evidence to support the ‘Big Bang’

theory.

proved the Universe will continue to expand forever.

(1)

(b) Many stars are part of a binary star system. Binary star systems have two stars.

The visible spectrum from stars includes dark lines. These lines are at specific
wavelengths.

The diagram shows the position of two dark lines in the spectrum from the Sun. It
also shows the same lines in the spectra from two stars A and B in a binary star
system at the same point in time.

Page 14 of 24
 (i) What name is given to the effect shown in the spectrum from star A?

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) Scientists have concluded that the two stars in a binary star system orbit
around a fixed point between the two stars.

A comparison of the spectra from the two stars in a binary star system
provides evidence to support this conclusion.

Explain how.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Q9.
Scientists have used a satellite system to investigate the idea of generating electricity in
space.

As the system orbited the Earth a 20 km copper wire was reeled out.

Before the wire snapped a current of 1 amp was induced in the wire.

Figure 1

Page 15 of 24
(a) What provides the force needed to keep a satellite in orbit around the Earth?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Explain how a current is induced in the wire.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

An alternator is connected to a data logger.

The data logger is connected to a computer.

Figure 2 shows how the output potential difference of the alternator varies with time.

Figure 2

Page 16 of 24
(c) The coil inside the alternator now rotates at twice the frequency.

Draw on Figure 2 to show how the output potential difference varies with time at this
new frequency.
(2)

Another type of generator is now connected to the data logger and computer.

Figure 3 shows how the output potential difference varies with time for this generator.

Figure 3

(d) What name is given to this second type of generator?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

Page 17 of 24
(e) Look at Figure 2 and Figure 3.

Give one difference between the outputs from the two types of generator.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(f) The charger used to charge the battery inside a laptop computer contains a small
transformer.

The charger plugs into the mains electricity supply.

mains electricity supply = 230 V

number of turns on the primary coil of the transformer = 690

number of turns on the secondary coil of the transformer = 57

Calculate the potential difference applied by the charger across the battery inside
the computer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Potential difference = ____________________ V

(3)
(Total 11 marks)

Page 18 of 24
Mark schemes

Q1.
(a)  Milky Way
1

(b)  distance = 300 000 × 500

1

d = 150 000 000 (km)

1
an answer of 150 000 000 scores 2 marks

(c)  3
1

(d)  accept any number greater than 1.0 and less than 12.0
1

(e) 
1

15
1
an answer of 15 scores 2 marks
[7]

Q2.
(a) any one from:

• Earth is at the centre (not the Sun)

• there are fewer planets
accept there is no asteroid belt shown
accept there are only 5 planets (and not 8)
accept other planets have no moons shown
1

(b) Shows the moon in orbit around the Earth

accept the planets have circular orbits
1

(c) circular
accept elliptical
1

(d) gravity
1

(e) Mira is much more massive

1
[5]

Page 19 of 24
Q3.
(a) gas
correct order only
1

gravity
1

protostar
accept correct word circled in box provided no answer given
in answer space
1

(b) the explosion of a massive star

1

(c) The telescopes and measuring instruments were not sensitive enough.
1
[5]

Q4.
(a) hydrogen
1

(b) supernova
1

(c) red super giant

1

(d) any four from:

• fusion takes place within stars
• hydrogen formed into helium
• fusion continued and formed larger elements
• elements heavier than iron were formed in supernova
• (heavy) elements were scattered by the supernova explosion.
accept light elements formed
4
[7]

Q5.
(a) red–shift
1

(b) the further away from the Earth, the faster a galaxy is moving
1

(c) strength
as the balloon expands the dots get further apart, representing the galaxies moving
apart
1

weakness
dots are only on the surface of the balloon, galaxies are throughout the universe
or
there is a limit to how far the balloon can expand

Page 20 of 24
 1

(d) both theories suggest that the Universe is expanding

1

(e) new evidence / observations that cannot be explained by Theory 1

accept specific example of new evidence ie CMBR
1
[6]

Q6.
(a) wavelength correctly shown
1

(b) (i) increased

1

decreased
1

(ii) 17-18 inclusive

1

evidence of measurement divided by 3 or mean of 3 separate

measurements
1

mm
accept cm if consistent with answer
1

(c) (i) red shift

1

(ii) moving away

1

(iii) the furthest galaxies show the biggest red shift

1

(meaning that) the furthest galaxies are moving fastest

1

(so the) Universe is expanding

1

(extrapolating backwards this suggests that) the Universe started from

an initial point
1

(iv) cosmic microwave background radiation

allow CMBR
1
[13]

Q7.
(a)  (force of) gravity causes the satellite to accelerate (towards the Earth)

Page 21 of 24
 allow satellite is (constantly) accelerating
1

the acceleration causes a change in direction

acceleration causes a change in speed negates
this mark point
1

velocity changes because direction changes

1

(b)  length of orbit taken from graph = 42 100 (km)

1

42 100 = 7.73 × time

or

allow
their distance = 7.73 × time
1

time (1 orbit) = 5446(s)

allow a value consistent with their distance
1

= 15.86

allow a value consistent with their distance

1

number of orbits = 15
allow a value consistent with their distance
an answer of 16 scores 4 marks
1

or

length of orbit taken from graph = 42 100 (km) (1)

distance = 667 872 (km) (1)

= 15.86 (1)
allow a value consistent with their two distances

number of orbits = 15 (1)

Page 22 of 24
 allow a value consistent with their two distances
up to full marks can be awarded for a method
calculating velocity in km/h and time in hours
an answer of 15 scores 5 marks

(c)  the predicted data is very close to the actual data

1

(d)  supported the prediction (made by Bode)

allow predicted and actual values are very close
1

so provides evidence that the equation is true / correct / works / accurate

allow proves for provides evidence
1
[11]

Q8.
(a) (i) origin of the Universe
accept (why) the Universe is expanding
do not accept origin of the Earth
1

(ii) provided more evidence to support the ‘Big Bang’ theory

1

(b) (i) red-shift

accept Doppler (shift)
1

(ii) (at the point in time shown the observed spectrum from) star A (shows
it) is moving away from the Earth
accept star A is moving away
star A shows red-shift is insufficient
1

light from star B shows a decrease in wavelength

accept light from star B shows blue-shift
accept light from star B shows an increase in frequency
1

so star B is moving towards Earth

1
[6]

Q9.
(a) gravity
1

(b) as the wire moves through the Earth’s magnetic field

1

a potential difference is induced between the ends of the

wire
1

Page 23 of 24
 the wire must be part of a complete circuit
1

(c) new trace shows:

twice the frequency

1

twice the amplitude

1

(d) dynamo
dc generator is insufficient
1

(e) the alternator pd changes polarity, the 2nd type of generator

does not
1

(f)
1

Vs = 19 (V)
an answer of 19 (V) scores 3 marks
1
[11]

Page 24 of 24