Q1.

The Sun is at the centre of our solar system.

(a) What type of object is the Sun?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) What is the name of the galaxy our solar system is part of?

Tick (✓) one box.

Andromeda

Milky Way

Sombrero

Tadpole

(1)

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

Radius in
Moon
kilometres

Ganymede 2630

Titan 2570

Europa 1560

Charon 606

(c) What is a moon?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(d) A student researched the radius of some planets in the solar system.

radius of largest dwarf planet = 1190 km

radius of smallest planet = 2440 km

The student made the following conclusions:

1. dwarf planets are always smaller than moons

2. planets are always bigger than moons.

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 Give one reason why each of the student’s conclusions is wrong.

Use the data given above and in the table above.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

The Earth's Moon and the International Space Station both orbit the Earth.

(e) Give one other similarity and one difference between the orbit of the Earth’s Moon
and the orbit of the International Space Station.

Similarity ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Difference __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(f) Very few people have been to the International Space Station.

Suggest one reason why very few people have been to the International Space
Station.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 8 marks)

Q2.
Galaxies contain billions of stars.

(a) Compare the formation and life cycles of stars with a similar mass to the Sun to
stars with a much greater mass than the Sun.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(6)

The points on diagram below represent galaxies that are moving away from the Milky
Way.

Each arrow represents the velocity of the galaxy relative to the Milky Way.

(b) Light from all galaxies represented in diagram above is red-shifted.

Describe what is meant by red-shift.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) Explain how above diagram provides evidence for the Big Bang theory.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

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 (d) Sometimes scientists have to change theories about the universe.

Give the reason why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 11 marks)

Q3.
The Sun is the closest star to the Earth.

(a) A 2.5 kg mass would have a weight of 750 N at the surface of the Sun.

Calculate the gravitational field strength at the surface of the Sun.

Use the equation:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Gravitational field strength = _______________ N/kg

(2)

(b) Gravity is a non-contact force.

Which of the following is also a non-contact force?

Tick (✓) one box.

Air resistance

Electrostatic

Friction

Tension

(1)

(c) All stars have a life cycle.

The figure below shows part of the life cycle of a star that becomes a black dwarf.

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 Complete the figure below.

Choose answers from the box.

Black hole Neutron star

Red giant Supernova White dwarf

(2)

The table below gives the mass of three stars compared to the mass of the Sun.

Mass compared to the mass of

Star
the Sun

X × 25.0

Y × 15.0

Z × 0.9

(d) Which letter represents the star most likely to become a black dwarf?

Give a reason for your answer.

Tick (✓) one box.

X Y Z

Reason ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(e) In which stage of the life cycle of a star are elements heavier than iron produced?

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Tick (✓) one box.

Nebula

Protostar

Supernova

(1)
(Total 8 marks)

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Mark schemes

Q1.
(a) a star
1

(b) Milky Way

1

(c) natural satellite (that orbits a planet)

1

(d) Charon is smaller than the (largest) dwarf planet

1

Ganymede / Titan is larger than the (smallest) planet

allow 1 mark for some are bigger than the smallest planet or
some are smaller than dwarf planets
1

(e) similarity: circular orbit

1

difference: (orbital) period

or
(orbital) height
allow (orbital) speed
1

(e) expensive
or
dangerous
allow difficult to get to
allow few opportunities
allow only trained astronauts can go
1
[8]

Q2.
(a) Level 2: Scientifically relevant features are identified; the
way(s) in which they are similar/different is made clear and
(where appropriate) the magnitude of the similarity/difference
is noted.
4−6

Level 1: Relevant features are identified and differences

noted.
1−3

No relevant content
0

Indicative content

all stars:

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 • form in a cloud of gas and dust (nebula) by gravity – mostly hydrogen
• forms a protostar
• fusion begins
• fusion of small nuclei into larger nuclei (hydrogen into helium)
• main sequence star – stable period where gravitational forces (inwards)
balance forces (outwards) due to fusion processes

comparisons:

• stars about the same size as the Sun expand to become a red giant,
stars much bigger than the Sun expand to become a red super giant
• stars about the same size as the Sun contract (and temperature
increases) to become a white dwarf, stars much bigger than the Sun
explode in a supernova
• stars about the same size as the Sun (cool to) become a black dwarf,
stars much bigger than the Sun become either a neutron star or black
hole

(b) the (observed) increase in wavelength (of light from galaxies)

ignore light waves are stretched
1

as galaxies move away from us

1

(c) the furthest galaxies are moving away (from the Milky Way)
the fastest
1

(which suggests that) at some time all galaxies / matter

started at the same point
1

(d) there are new observations / evidence that does not fit into
current theory / model
allow specific examples of new observations / theories such
as dark matter or dark energy
1
[11]

Q3.

(a)
1

g = 300.0 (N/kg)
1

(b) electrostatic
1

(c) red giant

this order only
1

white dwarf

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 1

(d) Z
reason only scores if Z chosen
1

only stars about the same/smaller size/mass as the Sun become Black dwarfs
allow converse
1

(e) supernova
1
[8]

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