Edexcel A level Physics Astrophysics
June 2024 Exam Questions and Answers
100% Pass
What is a black body? - Answer>>A black body is a perfect
radiator and absorber of EM radiation. It gives off energy across
the entire EM spectrum (ie at all different wavelengths).
What is lambda max? - Answer>>Wavelength where you get
peak energy output
Which law tells you how bright a star is? - Answer>>Stefan-
Boltzmann law
Define luminosity - Answer>>Power measured at the star / The
rate at which energy is radiated in all directions by an object
What do you measure luminosity in? - Answer>>Watts
What is the radiant energy flux/intensity? - Answer>>Power per
unit area at distance d
How do you work out the time period of a standard candle? -
Answer>>You need to take it twice and mean average it
How far is a light year in metres? - Answer>>9.46 x 10^15m
What is one astronomical unit? - Answer>>The radius of the
Earth's orbit around the sun
Define parallax - Answer>>The apparent motion of an object,
relative to its background, when it is viewed from different
positions.
, How is the amount of parallax used? - Answer>>To determine
its parallax angle.
How do you increase the percentage certainty of measurements
of nearby stars? - Answer>>Use the diameter of the Earth's
orbit as a baseline, taking measurements 6 months apart.
How many arc seconds are there in a degree? - Answer>>3600
What is the equation for distance in parsecs? -
Answer>>Distance = 1/ angle (arcsec)
What is the doppler effect? - Answer>>The relative change in
the wavelength and frequency of a wave due to relative motion
between a source and a observer.
What is the spectrum of absorption lines of elements observed
from distant galaxies is similar to but not the same as? -
Answer>>The absorption lines as observed in the lab.
What does the letter Z mean? - Answer>>The amount of
redshift.
What does the positive and negative values of red shift mean? -
Answer>>Positive value means red shift as its moving away.
Negative value means blue shift as moving towards.
Why is the x axis of a Hertzsprung-Russel diagram log T? -
Answer>>The range of temperatures of the surfaces of stars is
large
Classify a neutron star - Answer>>Core remnant
June 2024 Exam Questions and Answers
100% Pass
What is a black body? - Answer>>A black body is a perfect
radiator and absorber of EM radiation. It gives off energy across
the entire EM spectrum (ie at all different wavelengths).
What is lambda max? - Answer>>Wavelength where you get
peak energy output
Which law tells you how bright a star is? - Answer>>Stefan-
Boltzmann law
Define luminosity - Answer>>Power measured at the star / The
rate at which energy is radiated in all directions by an object
What do you measure luminosity in? - Answer>>Watts
What is the radiant energy flux/intensity? - Answer>>Power per
unit area at distance d
How do you work out the time period of a standard candle? -
Answer>>You need to take it twice and mean average it
How far is a light year in metres? - Answer>>9.46 x 10^15m
What is one astronomical unit? - Answer>>The radius of the
Earth's orbit around the sun
Define parallax - Answer>>The apparent motion of an object,
relative to its background, when it is viewed from different
positions.
, How is the amount of parallax used? - Answer>>To determine
its parallax angle.
How do you increase the percentage certainty of measurements
of nearby stars? - Answer>>Use the diameter of the Earth's
orbit as a baseline, taking measurements 6 months apart.
How many arc seconds are there in a degree? - Answer>>3600
What is the equation for distance in parsecs? -
Answer>>Distance = 1/ angle (arcsec)
What is the doppler effect? - Answer>>The relative change in
the wavelength and frequency of a wave due to relative motion
between a source and a observer.
What is the spectrum of absorption lines of elements observed
from distant galaxies is similar to but not the same as? -
Answer>>The absorption lines as observed in the lab.
What does the letter Z mean? - Answer>>The amount of
redshift.
What does the positive and negative values of red shift mean? -
Answer>>Positive value means red shift as its moving away.
Negative value means blue shift as moving towards.
Why is the x axis of a Hertzsprung-Russel diagram log T? -
Answer>>The range of temperatures of the surfaces of stars is
large
Classify a neutron star - Answer>>Core remnant
