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Space Physics Practice Questions

Cambridge O Level
Physics 5054
To accompany the revised syllabus for examination from 2023.

Version 1
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Paper 1 example questions

1 Which row in the table correctly lists a galaxy, a planet and a star?

galaxy planet star

A Milky Way Mars Moon
B Milky Way Earth Sun
C Solar System Mars Sun
D Solar System Earth Moon

2 The orbit around the Sun of a comet is not circular. The distance between the Sun and the comet
varies, as shown in the diagram.

Sun

P R

orbit of comet

Where, in the orbit, is the speed of the comet the greatest and where is it the smallest?

speed greatest at speed smallest at

A P R
B P and R Q
C Q P and R
D R P

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3 The orbit around the Sun of a particular asteroid (dwarf planet) is not circular. The distance
between the Sun and the asteroid varies, as shown in the diagram.

The asteroid possesses both gravitational potential energy (GPE) and kinetic energy (KE).

Sun

X Z

orbit of asteroid

Which energy transfer takes place as the asteroid moves from X to Y and as it moves from Y to Z?

moving from X to Y moving from Y to Z

A GPE to KE GPE to KE
B GPE to KE KE to GPE
C KE to GPE GPE to KE
D KE to GPE KE to GPE

4 Ceres and Vesta are two asteroids (dwarf planets) that orbit the Sun. The orbits of Ceres and
Vesta are approximately circular.

The Sun’s gravitational field at the orbit of Ceres is weaker than that at the orbit of Vesta.

How does the orbital speed of Ceres and its orbital period compare with the orbital speed and
orbital period of Vesta?

orbital speed of Ceres orbital period of Ceres

A smaller than that of Vesta smaller than that of Vesta
B smaller than that of Vesta greater than that of Vesta
C greater than that of Vesta smaller than that of Vesta
D greater than that of Vesta greater than that of Vesta

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5 The Sun emits energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation.

Which three components of the electromagnetic spectrum account for almost all of this energy?

A infrared, microwave and ultraviolet

B infrared, microwave and visible light

C infrared, ultraviolet and visible light

D microwave, ultraviolet and visible light

6 When, in the life cycle of a star, are heavy elements produced?

A when a cloud containing hydrogen collapses

B when a protostar becomes stable

C when a red supergiant explodes

D when a white dwarf is formed

7 The statements J, K, L and M describe different stages in the life cycle of a small star.

J A cloud containing hydrogen collapses due to gravitational attraction.

K A red giant is produced.
L A white dwarf is produced.
M Hydrogen undergoes nuclear fusion to produce helium.

What is the order (first to last) in which the stages occur?

A J, M, K, L
B J, M, L, K

C M, J, K, L

D M, J, L, K

8 What provides evidence for the Big Bang Theory?

A the expulsion of heavy elements into space during a supernova explosion

B the increase in the observed wavelength of radiation emitted by distant galaxies

C the nuclear fusion reaction that takes place at the centre of stable stars

D the smaller orbital speeds of the planets that are further from the Sun

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Paper 2 example questions

1 The Solar System contains the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids and comets.

(a) State the name of the planet closest to the Sun.

............................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Describe the difference between a planet and a moon.

....................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) State two differences between an asteroid and a comet.

1 .................................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................

2 .................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................... [2]

(d) The planet closest to the Sun orbits the Sun in 88 days.

State two reasons why the Earth takes longer to orbit the Sun than this planet.

1 .................................................................................................................................................

2 .................................................................................................................................................
[2]

(e) (i) State the time taken for light to travel from the Sun to the Earth.

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Using your answer to (e)(i), calculate the distance from the Sun to the Earth.

Show your working.

distance = ....................................................... m [2]

 [Total: 10]

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2 (a) A year, a month and a day can be defined in terms of the motions of the Earth, the Moon and
the Sun.

Using these motions, complete the following sentences.

(i) A year is the time for

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) A month is the time for

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) A day is the time for

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Earth, Jupiter and Saturn are three planets in the Solar System.

Table 2.1 gives information about these planets.

Table 2.1

planet orbital speed time to orbit

km / h Sun / years
Earth 1.1 × 105 1.0
4
Jupiter 4.7 × 10 12
Saturn 3.5 × 104 29

Using data from Table 2.1, calculate the average radius of Saturn’s orbit around the Sun.

Give your answer in km.

radius = ..................................................... km [3]

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(c) Fig. 2.1 shows one alignment with the Sun of Earth, Jupiter and Saturn.

Sun
Jupiter
Earth Saturn
direction NOT TO
of orbit SCALE

Fig. 2.1

(i) In Fig. 2.1, the three planets and the Sun are in line.

29 years later, Saturn returns to the same position relative to the Sun, but Earth and
Jupiter are not in the same line.

Use data from Table 2.1 to explain why.

............................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Complete Fig. 2.2 to show the positions of the three planets exactly 6 years after the
diagram in Fig. 2.1.

Sun

Fig. 2.2
[3]

 [Total: 11]

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3 Table 3.1 lists some of the planets in the Solar System and their average distances from the Sun.

Table 3.1

planet average distance from the Sun / km

Mercury 5.8 × 107
1.1 × 108
Earth 1.5 × 108
2.3 × 108
Jupiter 7.8 × 108

(a) Complete Table 3.1 by writing in the names of the missing planets. [2]

(b) As the planets move around the Sun, the distance between Earth and Jupiter changes.

Use Table 3.1 to calculate the smallest distance and the largest distance between Earth and
Jupiter.

smallest distance = ................................................................

largest distance = ................................................................

[2]

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(c) A planet is in orbit around a distant star. As it passes in front of the star, it blocks some of the
light of the star from reaching Earth, reducing the brightness of the star as seen from Earth.

Fig. 3.1 shows the view, from Earth, as the planet passes in front of the star.

star
planet

direction of motion

Fig. 3.1

Fig. 3.2 shows an incomplete graph of how the brightness of the star varies with time, as
seen from Earth.

The planet is in front of the star from time t1 to time t2.

brightness of
star as seen
from Earth

0
0 t1 t2 time

Fig. 3.2

(i) Complete Fig. 3.2 to show how the brightness of the star varies with time. [2]

(ii) Describe how the completed Fig. 3.2 should be changed to show a larger planet passing
at the same distance in front of the same star.

............................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(iii) Suggest how an astronomer uses the changes in the brightness of the star to measure
the orbital period of the planet round the star.

............................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

 [Total: 9]

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4 When astronomers look at distant galaxies, they find that the frequency of the light from the galaxy
is shifted towards the red end of the spectrum.

(a) (i) Apart from visible light, state two types of electromagnetic wave that contain most of the
energy emitted by a stable star.

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Describe what is meant by the red end of the spectrum.

............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) The speed of recession of a galaxy is the speed at which the galaxy is moving away from
Earth.

Astronomers use redshift to measure the speed of recession.

Astronomers can also measure the distance d of the galaxy from Earth. Such large distances
are measured in light-years.

Astronomers can estimate the time T that the galaxy has been moving away from Earth using
the equation

d
T=
speed of recession

Table 4.1 shows their estimates for four different galaxies.

Table 4.1

d / light-years speed of recession T / billions of years

km / s
4.9 × 107 1100 13
8
1.0 × 10 2400 13
3.2 × 108 6700 14
3.9 × 108 9000 13

(i) State what is meant by a galaxy.

............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [2]

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(ii) Show that 1.0 light-year is equal to 9.5 × 1015 m.

 [3]

(iii) Describe the relationship between the speed of recession of a galaxy and its distance
from Earth.

............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iv) Explain how the values of T provide evidence for the Big Bang Theory of the origin of the
Universe.

............................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [2]

 [Total: 10]

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5 (a) The Sun produces energy from nuclei of hydrogen. Hydrogen nuclei are positively charged.

(i) Describe the process that produces this energy.

............................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Explain why this process needs a high temperature to occur.

............................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) (i) Some stars are initially much more massive than the Sun.

Describe the life cycle of such a star, after it has passed through the stage of being a
protostar.

............................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [4]

(ii) Although the early Universe contained only light elements such as hydrogen, it now
contains a number of very heavy elements.

State in which part of the life cycle of a star these very heavy elements are formed.

............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

 [Total: 9]

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