Summary Notes - Topic 8 Astrophysics - Edexcel Physics IGCSE
Summary Notes - Topic 8 Astrophysics - Edexcel Physics IGCSE
Summary Notes - Topic 8 Astrophysics - Edexcel Physics IGCSE
Topic 8: Astrophysics
Revision Notes
(Content in bold is for physics only)
Motion in the universe
The gravitational field strength is the force per unit mass on a body in a gravitational field and
is measured in Newtons per kilogram (N/kg). It varies with the mass and size of the body and is
therefore different on other planets and the moon compared to the Earth.
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 × 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔
The greater the orbital radius or the smaller the time period, the greater the orbital speed:
Stellar evolution balances with the inwards pressure due to
gravity and the star is now stable and called a
• A star begins as a cloud of
gas called a nebula. The
particles experience a weak
attraction towards each other
due to gravity and begin to
clump together.
• They continue to clump
together until the pressure and
temperature is great enough
for nuclear fusion to occur.
o Hydrogen nuclei fuse
together to form helium nuclei
which releases a large amount
of energy and causes a great
outwards pressure.
o This outwards pressure
main sequence star
Eventually the hydrogen in the star is used up.
There is no longer enough outward pressure
from nuclear fusion and it collapses under its
own gravitational attraction, becoming unstable.
o If the star has a similar mass to the Sun, it expands massively and becomes a red
giant. It then becomes a white dwarf (and finally cools into a black dwarf).
o If the star has a mass larger than the Sun, it expands and becomes a red super
giant, before exploding in a supernova. What remains is either a neutron star, or if
it was exceptionally massive, a black hole.