Black Body Radiation (Edexcel International A Level Physics)

Exam Questions

26 mins4 questions
1
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5 marks

Procyon is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor. The graph shows how the radiated intensity from Procyon varies with wavelength.

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A website states that Procyon has twice the diameter of the Sun.

Assess the accuracy of this statement.

   luminosity of Procyon = 2.65 × 1027 W
   diameter of Sun = 6.96 × 108 m

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2a
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1 mark

The Sun is a main sequence star.

State what is meant by a main sequence star.

2b
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8 marks

The Sun will eventually leave the main sequence and become a red giant star.
luminosity of Sun = 3.83 × 1026 W

i)
Show that the current radius of the Sun is about 7.0 × 108 m.
surface temperature of Sun = 5780 K
(2)
ii)
As a red giant star, the radius of the Sun will be about 150 times its current radius. Its luminosity will be about 1600 times its current luminosity. λmax is the wavelength at which peak power radiation occurs.

Show that when the Sun is in its red giant stage, λmax is about 1 × 10−6 m.

current radius of Sun = 7.0 × 108 m
(3)
iii)
At this stage of its evolution the Sun will be classified as a red giant star.
The wavelength of red light is between 6.2 × 10−7 m and 7.8 × 10−7 m.

Comment on the value for λmax and this classification of the Sun.
(3)
2c
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3 marks

As the Sun continues its evolution, its mass will decrease. It is estimated that at its largest radius, the mass of the Sun will have decreased significantly.

Explain how the orbital period of a planet would change as the mass of the Sun decreases.

Assume that the radius of the planet’s orbit about the Sun does not change.

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3a
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3 marks

A graph of relative intensity against wavelength for a star is shown.

q15-wph15-05-june-2021-edexcel-int-as-and-a-level-phy

Determine the surface temperature of the star.




Surface temperature of star = ......................................................

3b
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5 marks

Radiation from the star is analysed. The radiation from the star has spectral lines at different wavelengths from the same spectral lines produced by a source in the laboratory, as shown.

q15b-wph15-05-june-2021-edexcel-int-as-and-a-level-phy

Explain what can be concluded about the star from these results.
Your answer should include a calculation.

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