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IGCSEPhysics: Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)CIEExam Questions6. Space PhysicsThe Solar System

The Solar System (CIE IGCSE Physics: Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award))

Exam Questions

1 hour14 questions

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The Solar System

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The Solar System

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1a2 marks

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State the definition of 'orbital period'.

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1b2 marks

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State the equation needed to calculate average orbital speed, defining any variables.

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1c3 marks

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A satellite moves in a circular orbit.

Its distance above the Earth’s surface is 600 km and the radius of the Earth is 6400 km.

The orbital period of the satellite is 106 minutes. 

(i)
Determine the radius of the orbit, stating your answer in metres.
[2]
(ii)
Convert the orbital period to S.I. units.
[1]

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1d2 marks

Extended tier only

Use your answers to part (c) to calculate the orbital speed of the satellite.

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23 marks

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

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

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3a1 mark

Name the force which keeps satellites in orbit.

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3b2 marks

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The strength of the Sun’s gravitational field and the orbital speeds of the planets are affected by the distance from the Sun.

For each property state the change as the distance from the Sun increases.

(i)
Gravitational field strength
[1]
(ii)
Orbital speed
[1]

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3c2 marks

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The table in Fig. 1 shows data for three planets orbiting the same star.

Planet

Orbital Speed

/ km/s

Orbital period

/ days
Artemis 35.0 120
Hecate 67.4 58
Medea 24.1 231
   
Fig. 1
 
(i)
Identify the planet which is closest to the star
[1]
(ii)
State the reason for your choice
[1]

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1a2 marks

Extended tier only

The graph in Fig. 2.1 gives data for four bodies in the outer solar system.

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

planets-graph

Fig. 2.1

         

Use the graph to determine the orbital speed of Uranus.

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1b6 marks

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Use data from the graph to calculate

         
(i)
The distance travelled by Jupiter in one orbit.
    
     
distance = ............................... million km [3]
       
(ii)
The time taken for Jupiter to complete one orbit, giving your answer in days.
   
   
orbital period = ................................ days [3]

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2a3 marks

Fig. 1 shows a diagram of the solar system.

For each position (i - iii) state the name of the body indicated.

6-1-3a-m-solar-system-1

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2b3 marks

There are more than 200 moons in our solar system.

   
(i)
State the meaning of the term 'moon'.
[1]
(ii)
Choosing from the labelled bodies in part (a), state the body or bodies which have moons.
[1]
(iii)
Earth has one moon, known as the Moon. Name one other planet in the solar system apart from the answer to part (ii) which has a moon.
[1]

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2c3 marks

Extended tier only

Astronomers launched the Hubble telescope in 1990, placing it in orbit around the Earth.

The table in Fig. 2 shows information about the orbits around the Earth of both the Hubble Telescope and the Moon.

  average radius of orbit / km orbital period
Hubble telescope 550 96 minutes
Moon 385 000 28 days

Fig. 2

For the Hubble telescope and the Moon:

(i)
Calculate the closest distance between the Moon and the Hubble telescope.
[1]
(ii)
Explain why the distance between the Moon and the Hubble telescope changes.
[2]

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2d5 marks

Extended tier only

Using the data in the table in part (c) calculate the orbital speed of the Hubble telescope.

The radius of the Earth is 6400 km.

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3a3 marks

Fig. 1 shows a diagram of the solar system.

For each position (i - iii) state the name of the body indicated.

6-1-4a-m-solar-system-2

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3b3 marks

Extended Tier Only

The asteroid belt can be considered as the dividing line between the inner and outer planets.

Compare the differences between these two groups of planets.

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3c4 marks

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Fig. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between orbital speed in km/s and mean distance from the Sun measured in astronomical units, AU.

The positions of Saturn and Pluto have been plotted and labelled.

6-1-4c-m-orbital-speed-v-distance-graph-q

Fig. 2

For the planet Uranus

  
(i)
Indicate on the graph where Uranus is most likely to be plotted
[3]
(ii)
Use your plotted point to estimate the orbital speed of Uranus
[1]

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1a1 mark

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State how the strength of the Sun's gravitational field changes as the distance from the Sun decreases. 

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1b6 marks

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Mercury is nearer to the Sun than Saturn.

      
(i)
Compare the orbital speeds of Mercury and Saturn. Explain your answer.
[3]
      
(ii)
Compare the length of the year on Saturn to a year on Mercury.
                                       
Explain any differences which you mention in your answer.
[3]

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2a
Sme Calculator1 mark

A student states that the nearest star to Earth is Proxima Centauri.

Explain what is wrong with this statement.

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2b5 marks

Light from Proxima Centauri takes 2 200 000 minutes to reach the Earth. Light from the Sun takes 8.3 minutes to reach the Earth.

The distance from the Sun to the Earth is defined as being 1 astronomical unit (AU).

For the distance to Proxima Centauri

   
(i)
Calculate the distance in metres.
[3]
(ii)
Use the ratio method to determine the distance in terms of astronomical units
[2]

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2c2 marks

A light year is the distance that light travels in one year.

Astronomers usually give the distance from stars in terms of light years rather than using metres and kilometres.

Suggest a reason for this.

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3a1 mark

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Fig. 1 shows Jupiter and the orbits of two of its moons, Ganymede and Europa.

The positions of the two moons are marked for various dates.

The radius of Europa’s orbit is 671 000 km. The radius of Ganymede’s orbit is 1 070 000 km

6-1-5b-h-jupiter-ganymede-orbits-1

Fig.1.

Determine the time for Ganymede to complete one orbit of Jupiter.

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3b3 marks

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Calculate the distance from Europa to Ganymede on 8 June.

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3c5 marks

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Describe and explain how the distance between Europa and Ganymede changes during three orbits of Europa.

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