Solar system, Stability of Orbital Motions & Satellites (AQA GCSE Physics)

Exam Questions

2 hours15 questions
1a
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1 mark

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Figure 1 shows four planets, P, Q, R and S, orbiting a star.

Figure 1

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Planet Q has a moon.

Draw the orbit of this moon on Figure 1.

1b2 marks

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State a difference between the orbit of a moon and the orbit of a planet.

1c
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2 marks

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Draw the orbit of a comet on Figure 1.

1d
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1 mark

Suggest why planets nearer to the star take less time to orbit the star. 

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2a
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1 mark

Planets and comets in our Solar System orbit the Sun.

Which force causes planets and comets to orbit the Sun?

2b
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3 marks

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Figure 1 [not to scale] shows the orbits of a planet and a comet around the Sun.

Figure 1

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(i)
Label the planet, the comet and the Sun on Figure 1.
[1 mark]
   
(ii)
Explain why it is possible for a planet and a comet in our Solar System to collide. 
[2 marks]

2c4 marks

These sentences are about astronomy.

The Earth is an astronomical object.

One astronomical object smaller than the Earth is ............................ .

Two astronomical objects larger than the Earth are ............................ and ............................ .

The Milky Way is the name given to our ............................ .

   

Complete the sentences by writing words in the blank spaces.

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3a3 marks

For each description identify the body in the Solar System which is being described.

   
(i)
The fourth planet from the Sun.
[1 mark]
  
(ii)
A dwarf planet beyond the orbit of Neptune.
[1 mark]
  
(iii)
A natural satellite orbiting a planet.
[1 mark]
3b1 mark

State the location of the asteroid belt.

3c1 mark

The inner four planets of the Solar System are described as being small and rocky.

State the two words most commonly used to describe the outer four planets.

3d3 marks

The accretion model for Solar System formation is based on three factors having led to the formation of the planets.

State the three factors.

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4a3 marks

Describe how stars are formed.

4b3 marks

Add words from the box in the gaps to make the sentences correct. 

 
decay          balanced          fission          resultant forces          fusion          forces

(i)
Nuclear ...................................... releases energy inside stars. 
[1 mark]
 
(ii)
A star is stable during the 'main sequence' period in its life because the ...................................... within it are ...................................... .
[2 marks]
4c4 marks

The life cycle of a star after the 'main sequence' period depends on the size of the star.  A particular star is much larger in size than the Sun. 

Complete the stages of the life cycle of this star.

 
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5a6 marks

Rearrange the stages of the life cycle of a star into the correct order.

 
1 white dwarf
2 planetary nebula
3 protostar
4 main sequence star
5 interstellar clouds of gas and dust (stellar nebula)
6 red giant

5b2 marks

A star can be in its main sequence phase for billions of years.

Figure 1 shows the forces acting on the Sun during this stable stage of its life cycle. 

Figure 1

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(i)
State the name of the force pulling inwards.
[1 mark]
 
(ii)
Explain what causes the force pushing outwards.
[1 mark]
5c2 marks

Two stars, Alpha Centauri B and Betelgeuse are 0.9 and 16.5 solar masses respectively.

State which star could eventually become a neutron star. Explain your reasoning. 

 

1 solar mass = mass of the Sun

5d1 mark

State what is meant by a supernova.

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1a3 marks

The Sun lies at the centre of our solar system, with all other bodies, such as planets, orbiting around it.

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Give two similarities and one difference between the orbits of the planets.

Similarities:  ______________________

Difference: ______________________

1b1 mark

The innermost planets of the solar system consist mainly of heavy elements.

Where did these heavy elements come from?

1c1 mark

What does this tell us about the age of our solar system in comparison to the age of many other stars?

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2a2 marks

The life cycle of a star consists of many stages.

Describe how a star forms.

2b2 marks

At some point during its early life a star will change from being a protostar to a main sequence star.

Explain the difference between a protostar and a main sequence star.

2c2 marks

During their main sequence stage, stars exist in a stable state.

Explain why such stars are stable.

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36 marks

Describe, in as much detail as you can, the life of a star similar in size to the Sun.

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44 marks

Describe how a star much more massive than the Sun will change once it has reached the end of its stable period.

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5a3 marks

Stars release large amounts of energy through the process of nuclear fusion

Explain what is meant by nuclear fusion.

5b2 marks

Why does this process result in the release of energy?

5c4 marks

When hydrogen undergoes nuclear fusion there is a loss of mass of 0.7%.

The energy released during the reaction can be calculated using the equation:

Energy released = mass loss cross times (speed of light)2

(Where the speed of light is 3 cross times 108 m / s)

Calculate the energy released by the fusion of 1g of hydrogen

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6a3 marks

Many satellites move in circular orbits around the Earth.

Figure 1 below shows a satellite at two points in its orbits, with the velocity and resultant force at those points labelled.

Figure 1

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

6b1 mark

In order to travel along a circular path a resultant force must pull the satellite towards the centre of the circle.

What provides the resultant force on the satellite?

6c2 marks

State two factors that determine the size of the resultant force.

6d2 marks

Figure 2 below (not to scale) shows the orbits of two satellites (A and B) about the Earth.

Figure 2
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Satellite A completes one orbit of the Earth every 24 hours.

Satellite B completes one orbit of the Earth every 90 minutes

Which satellite would be most suited to the following purposes:

Purpose Satellite
Carrying out a detailed survey of the Earth’s surface  
Providing a constant telecommunications link between different points on the Earth’s surface.  

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7a1 mark

Figure 3 below gives data for four bodies in the outer solar system.

Figure 3

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Uranus orbits the Sun at an average distance of 2900 million km.

Use the above fact along with Figure 3 to find the average orbital speed of Uranus.

7b2 marks

Jupiter’s orbit about the Sun is circular in shape.

Use data from Figure 3 to calculate the distance travelled by Jupiter in one orbit.

7c2 marks

Use data from Figure 3 to calculate the time taken for Jupiter to complete one orbit.

7d1 mark

Figure 4 below shows the typical orbit of a planet.

Figure 4

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Add a line to Figure 4 showing the orbit of a typical comet.

7e1 mark

Add an X to the line you have drawn in Figure 4, indicating the point at which the comet will be travelling with the greatest speed.

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1a1 mark

Table 1 contains information on the mass of different stars.

Table 1

Star Name Star Mass / kg
Earth's Sun 1.989 × 1030
Proxima Centauri 2.446 × 1029
VY Canis Majoris 3.381 × 1031

  

Compare the masses of Proxima Centauri and VY Canis Majoris to the Sun.

1b3 marks

Explain how these differences will affect the time these stars can remain stable.

1c5 marks

Describe what will happen to each of the stars after they leave the main sequence stage.

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2a1 mark

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The Hubble Space Telescope is in orbit around the Earth. It detects visible light from distant objects.


Name the force that keeps the telescope in orbit around the Earth.

2b4 marks

The Hubble Space Telescope moves in a circular orbit. Its distance above the Earth’s surface is 560 km.

The radius of the Earth is 6400 km and the Hubble Space Telescope completes one orbit in 96 minutes. 

Calculate the Hubble Space Telescope's orbital speed in m/s.   

Use the equation:

o r b i t a l space s p e e d space equals space fraction numerator 2 pi cross times o r b i t a l space r a d i u s over denominator t i m e space p e r i o d end fraction

 

Orbital speed = ........................ m/s

2c3 marks

A different telescope also orbits the Earth, but does not move in a circular orbit. Its distance from the Earth and its speed change as it orbits the Earth.

It travels fastest when it is closest to the Earth.

Use ideas about energy to explain why.

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3a4 marks

Table 1 shows the 5 stages of the life cycle of a star that has a similar mass to the Sun. 

Table 1 

Stage 1 Initially, there is a massive cloud of dust and gas in space.
Stage 2  
Stage 3 Hydrogen nuclei join together to make helium nuclei
Stage 4  
Stage 5 The star eventually becomes unstable. An outer layer of dust and gas is ejected leaving behind a core. The core collapses due to gravity.

 

State and explain what happens in stage 2 of Table 1. 

Include details of the forces involved.

3b4 marks

State and explain what happens in stage 4 of Table 1.

3c2 marks

The average length of time a star stays in stage 3 is 109 to 1011 years. 

Explain why the star remains stable during stage 3 for this length of time.

3d5 marks

For stars with much larger masses than our Sun, stages 1 to 3 in Table 1 are almost exactly the same as lower mass stars. For the later stages, 4 and 5, the processes begin to differ.

Compare and contrast the final two stages in stars with much larger masses than our Sun and stars with similar masses to our Sun.

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