Paper Reference. Tuesday 14 June 2005 Morning Time: 2 hours

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1 Centre No. Candidate No. Paper Reference(s) 1627/01 Edexcel GCSE Astronomy Paper 01 Tuesday 14 June 2005 Morning Time: 2 hours Materials required for examination Nil Items included with question papers Nil Instructions to Candidates In the boxes above, write your centre number, candidate number, your surname and initials and your signature. Answer ALL questions in the spaces provided in this book. Show all stages in any calculations and state the units. Calculators may be used. Include diagrams in your answers where these are helpful. Information for Candidates The marks for the various parts of questions are shown in round brackets: e.g.. This paper has 20 questions. There is one page. Advice to Candidates This symbol shows where the quality of your written answer will also be assessed. Additional answer sheets may also be used. Paper Reference Surname Signature Initial(s) Examiner s use only Team Leader s use only Question Number Blank This publication may be reproduced only in accordance with Edexcel Limited copyright policy Edexcel Limited. Printer s Log. No. N21157A W850/R1627/ /4/5/3/2/1400 *N21157A0124* Total Turn over

2 1. A group of students observed the sky on a clear night. They wrote down several descriptions of what they observed. For each of the descriptions (i) (iii) below, give the name of the most appropriate object. Choose from the following objects: aircraft Earth satellite meteor planet (i) It moved slowly about half-way across the sky from north to south and then faded from view. (ii) I could see red and green flashing lights moving from east to west. (iii) Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bright streak of light lasting about a second. Q1 (Total 3 marks) 2 *N21157A0224*

3 2. (a) Four regions of the electromagnetic spectrum are listed below: infra-red radio ultraviolet X-ray Which of these (i) is absorbed by ozone in the Earth s atmosphere, (ii) is emitted by the Sun s corona, (iii) is detected in regular bursts from pulsars? (3) (b) Galileo Galilei was the first person to make astronomical observations using an optical telescope. State two of his main discoveries Q2 (Total 5 marks) *N21157A0324* 3 Turn over

4 3. Arrange the following in order of increasing distance from the Earth. To help you, the Sun has already been inserted. the Hubble Space Telescope Jupiter the Moon Pluto the Sun Closest to the Earth the Sun... Furthest from Earth... (Total 4 marks) Q3 4 *N21157A0424*

5 4. (a) State the approximate temperature of the Sun s photosphere. (b) With the aid of a diagram, describe the structure of a typical sunspot. (c) State the approximate value in years for the solar cycle. (d) Explain briefly how observations of sunspots allow the rotation period of the Sun to be determined. (3) Q4 (Total 7 marks) *N21157A0524* 5 Turn over

6 5. (a) Circle the approximate time for which an observer on Earth can see a total solar eclipse. 3 seconds 3 minutes 3 hours 3 days (b) The diagram shows the Earth and the orbit of the Moon (not to scale). The direction of the Sun is also shown. Orbit of the Moon Earth Direction of the Sun On the diagram above, indicate the position of the Moon (i) at the time of a solar eclipse (use S), (ii) at the time of a lunar eclipse (use L). (c) What is the approximate distance between S and L? Give your answer in kilometres. (d) State one reason why a lunar eclipse lasts longer than a total solar eclipse. Q5 (Total 5 marks) 6 *N21157A0624*

7 6. The diagram shows two prominent constellations, Andromeda and Pegasus. Some of the stars are labelled with their Greek letter and the three-letter abbreviation of the constellation. The position of the Andromeda Galaxy is also shown. ν And Andromeda Galaxy γ And β And α And β Peg γ Peg α Peg (a) Circle the brightest star in the constellation Andromeda. (b) The apparent magnitude of α Peg is 2.5 and the apparent magnitude of ν And is 4.5. How many times brighter than ν And does α Peg appear? (c) Light from the Andromeda Galaxy takes 2.2 million years to reach us on Earth. The Andromeda Galaxy is pc away from us. Use this information to calculate how many light years there are in 1 parsec. Give your answer to three significant figures. (3) Q6 (Total 5 marks) *N21157A0724* 7 Turn over

8 7. There was a transit of Venus in June This rare event was visible from many parts of the world. (a) State what is meant by a transit. (b) At which position in the orbit of Venus does a transit occur? Circle the correct answer. inferior conjunction greatest elongation opposition (c) Name one other planet that might be observed to undergo such a transit. (d) Venus, the Sun and the Earth are aligned every 1 1 Venus does not occur every 1 years years. Explain why a transit of Q7 (Total 5 marks) 8 *N21157A0824*

9 8. A student observed the Moon in the west and made a sketch of it. (a) What is the phase of the Moon in the sketch? (b) On the day that the student made the sketch, sunrise occurred at 05:15 GMT and sunset occurred at 19:30 GMT. Give an approximate time of day at which the student drew the sketch. (c) The student observed the Moon 8 days after the above sketch was made. Draw what the student saw. (d) Describe the appearance of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse. Q8 (Total 6 marks) *N21157A0924* 9 Turn over

10 9. (a) Draw and label a ray diagram for a refracting telescope. (3) (b) A student used a refracting telescope with the following specification: focal length of objective = 60 cm diameter of objective lens = 90 mm focal length of eyepiece = 30 mm (i) Calculate the magnification of the telescope. Use the equation focal length of objective magnification = focal length of eyepiece (ii) How many times more light does the student s telescope collect compared with one that has an objective lens of diameter 30 mm? Q9 (Total 7 marks) 10 *N21157A01024*

11 BLANK PAGE *N21157A01124* 11 Turn over

12 10. The photographs show four different nebulae. Nebulae are generally associated with certain stages in the evolution of a star. Under each image describe (i) the physical characteristics of the nebula, and (ii) the stage of evolution of the star. Image courtesy of NASA The Horsehead Nebula, an absorption nebula (i) (ii) Image courtesy of NASA The Helix Nebula, a planetary nebula (i) (ii) 12 *N21157A01224*

13 Image courtesy of NASA The Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant (i) (ii) Image courtesy of NASA The Orion Nebula, an emission nebula (i) (ii) Q10 (Total 8 marks) *N21157A01324* 13 Turn over

14 11. The differences between Pluto and the other planets in the Solar System have led some astronomers to believe that Pluto should not be classified as a planet. (a) (i) State one difference in terms of Pluto s physical nature. (ii) State two differences in terms of Pluto s orbit (3) (b) Many astronomers believe that Pluto is just one of a large number of similar objects that reside in the Kuiper Belt. Give three key facts about the Kuiper Belt (3) Q11 (Total 6 marks) 14 *N21157A01424*

15 12. Using the axes below sketch the Hertsprung-Russell diagram. You should label the axes show and label the main components. Q12 (Total 5 marks) *N21157A01524* 15 Turn over

16 13. (a) The Perseids meteor shower occurs every year in August. The shower is so-named because the radiant of the shower lies in the constellation of Perseus. (i) What is meant by the radiant? (ii) With the aid of a diagram, explain why some meteor showers like the Perseids occur every year. (3) (b) Many people confuse meteoroids and meteorites. State the difference between them. Q13 (Total 5 marks) 16 *N21157A01624*

17 14. In 1990, the Magellan space probe began mapping the surface of Venus using radar. (a) Explain how radar allows astronomers to map the surface of Venus. (4) (b) Calculate the time interval between a pulse being transmitted and received when the probe was 300 km above the surface of Venus. (The speed of radio waves = km/s). Use the equation distance speed = time (c) Give a reason why radar could not be used to determine the distance from Earth to an outer planet such as Neptune. Q14 (Total 8 marks) *N21157A01724* 17 Turn over

18 15. The diagram shows the constellation of Cepheus. Three of the brightest stars, α, β and δ, are labelled. Declination/degrees β δ α Right Ascension/ h (a) Give the approximate coordinates of star α. Right Ascension =... Declination =... (b) State the approximate latitude on Earth from which star β could be seen directly overhead. (c) Explain why it would be impossible to observe any of the planets in the constellation of Cepheus. 18 *N21157A01824*

19 (d) Star δ is a Cepheid variable star. Explain how observations of Cepheid variables can be used to determine the distance to a star. (4) Q15 (Total 9 marks) *N21157A01924* 19 Turn over

20 16. (a) Give three facts about quasars (3) (b) How do observations of quasars support the generally accepted view that the Universe is expanding? Q16 (Total 5 marks) 20 *N21157A02024*

21 17. The diagram shows the Sun and the orbit of the planet Saturn (not to scale). Orbit of Saturn Sun (a) (i) On the diagram, draw the orbit of a typical short-period comet. (ii) On the diagram, show with the letter P the position of the comet when it is at perehelion. (3) (b) The greatest distance of a short-period comet from the Sun is 28 AU. Use the inverse square law to determine by how many times the force of gravity of the Sun acting on the comet is greater when the comet is at 0.70 AU compared with when it is at 28 AU. (c) State Kepler s Third law of Planetary Motion. Q17 (Total 7 marks) *N21157A02124* 21 Turn over

22 18. (a) The table shows the times of the rising and setting of the Sun for an observer in London on consecutive Mondays during a particular month. All times are Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Sunrise Sunset 03:48 20:09 03:44 20:15 03:42 20:19 03:43 20:21 03:46 20:20 (i) Name the month. (ii) Justify your answer. (b) (i) At 12:06 GMT, a student at Greenwich observes that the Sun is due south. Calculate the value for the equation of time. Use the equation mean solar time = apparent solar time equation of time (ii) On the same day, a second student is located at a longitude of 2.5 E. At what time (GMT) would this student observe that the Sun was due south? (4) Q18 (Total 6 marks) 22 *N21157A02224*

23 19. (a) Describe the Hubble classification of galaxies. (You may find it helpful to sketch the Hubble Tuning Fork diagram.) (3) (b) What type of galaxy is the Milky Way? (c) Describe the observational evidence for the existence of black holes. Q19 (Total 6 marks) *N21157A02324* 23 Turn over

24 20. (a) Many astronomers believe that there is a serious risk that an asteroid may collide with the Earth. Describe some of the evidence that has led astronomers to reach this conclusion. (4) (b) The photograph shows the asteroid Ida taken from a space probe. Image courtesy of NASA From the space probe Ida had an apparent magnitude of 1.0. What would its apparent magnitude be from Earth which is 1000 times further away? (4) Q20 (Total 8 marks) TOTAL FOR PAPER: 120 MARKS END 24 *N21157A02424*