AQA-style topic test · Space Physics · Foundation tier
🔷 The whole of Space Physics is SEPARATE PHYSICS ONLY. Combined Science students do not need this test.
Time allowed: 30 minutes · Total: 26 marks
Instructions: Answer all questions on paper. Open the mark schemes only when you have finished the whole test.
Question 01
01.1 What is the name of the galaxy that our Solar System is in? [1 mark]
Mark scheme
the Milky Way (1)
01.2 Which of these is a natural satellite?
Tick (✓) one box.
☐ the International Space Station ☐ the Moon ☐ the Sun ☐ a weather satellite [1 mark]
Mark scheme
the Moon (1)
01.3 Describe how the Sun was formed. [2 marks]
Mark scheme
from a cloud of dust and gas (a nebula) (1)
pulled together by gravity (1)
01.4 Put these in order of size, smallest first: galaxy · moon · planet · Solar System · star [1 mark]
Mark scheme
moon, planet, star, Solar System, galaxy (1)
Question 01 total: 5 marks
Question 02
02.1 Complete the life cycle of a star the same size as the Sun.
nebula → protostar → A → red giant → B → C [3 marks]
Mark scheme
A: main sequence star (1)
B: white dwarf (1)
C: black dwarf (1)
02.2 A main sequence star is stable. Explain why. [2 marks]
Mark scheme
the inward force of gravity (1)
is balanced by the outward pressure from fusion energy (1)
02.3 In a main sequence star, hydrogen nuclei fuse to make nuclei of which element? [1 mark]
Mark scheme
helium (1)
02.4 Elements heavier than iron are made in which event? [1 mark]
Mark scheme
a supernova (1)
Question 02 total: 7 marks
Question 03
03.1 Which force keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun? [1 mark]
Mark scheme
gravity (1)
03.2 Give one use of artificial satellites. [1 mark]
Mark scheme
any one from (1): communications · weather forecasting · GPS / navigation · observing the Earth or space
03.3 Two satellites orbit the Earth. Satellite X is closer to the Earth than satellite Y.
Which satellite must travel faster to stay in orbit? [1 mark]
Mark scheme
X (the closer one) (1)
03.4 What shape are the orbits of planets and satellites, approximately? [1 mark]
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circular (1)
Question 03 total: 4 marks
Question 04
04.1 What is red-shift? [2 marks]
Mark scheme
an increase in the observed wavelength of light (1)
from galaxies that are moving away from us (1)
04.2 Galaxies that are further away have a bigger red-shift. What does this tell us about the universe? [1 mark]
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the universe is expanding (1)
04.3 Describe the Big Bang theory. [2 marks]
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the universe began from a very small region (1)
that was extremely hot and dense, and has been expanding ever since (1)
04.4 Give one thing about the universe that scientists do not yet understand. [1 mark]
Mark scheme
dark mass (dark matter) / dark energy (1)
04.5 Why do scientific theories about the universe sometimes change? [1 mark]
Mark scheme
new evidence / observations are found (1)
Question 04 total: 7 marks
Question 05
Table 1 shows the distance to some galaxies and how fast they are moving away from us.
| Galaxy | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance (million light years) | 100 | 200 | 300 | 400 |
| Speed (km/s) | 2000 | 4000 | 6000 | 8000 |
05.1 Describe the relationship between distance and speed. [2 marks]
Mark scheme
the further away the galaxy, the faster it is moving away (1)
speed is directly proportional to distance / doubling the distance doubles the speed (1)
05.2 Predict the speed of a galaxy 500 million light years away. [1 mark]
Mark scheme
10 000 km/s (1)
Question 05 total: 3 marks
END OF TEST. Total: 26 marks.
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