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Paper Reference(s)

1627/01Edexcel GCSEAstronomyPaper 01Tuesday 14 June 2005 – MorningTime: 2 hours

Materials required for examination Items included with question papersNil Nil

Instructions to CandidatesIn the boxes above, write your centre number, candidate number, your surname and initials and yoursignature.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 CandidatesThe marks for the various parts of questions are shown in round brackets: e.g. (2).This paper has 20 questions. There is one blank 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.

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Examiner’s use only

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1. A group of students observed the sky on a clear night. They wrote down severaldescriptions of what they observed. For each of the descriptions (i)–(iii) below, give thename 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 fadedfrom 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)

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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 anoptical telescope. State two of his main discoveries.

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

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(2)

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Q2

(Total 5 marks)

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3. Arrange the following in order of increasing distance from the Earth. To help you, theSun has already been inserted.

the Hubble Space Telescope

Jupiter

the Moon

Pluto

the Sun

Closest to the Earth ..............................................................................................................

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

the Sun

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

Furthest from Earth .............................................................................................................. Q3

(Total 4 marks)

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4. (a) State the approximate temperature of the Sun’s photosphere.

.......................................................................................................................................(1)

(b) With the aid of a diagram, describe the structure of a typical sunspot.

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(2)

(c) State the approximate value in years for the solar cycle.

.......................................................................................................................................(1)

(d) Explain briefly how observations of sunspots allow the rotation period of the Sun tobe determined.

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

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(3)

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Q4

(Total 7 marks)

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5. (a) Circle the approximate time for which an observer on Earth can see a total solareclipse.

3 seconds 3 minutes 3 hours 3 days(1)

(b) The diagram shows the Earth and the orbit of the Moon (not to scale). The directionof the Sun is also shown.

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).(2)

(c) What is the approximate distance between S and L? Give your answer in kilometres.

.......................................................................................................................................(1)

(d) State one reason why a lunar eclipse lasts longer than a total solar eclipse.

.......................................................................................................................................(1) Q5

(Total 5 marks)

*N21157A0624*

Earth

Direction of the Sun

Orbit of the Moon

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6. The diagram shows two prominent constellations, Andromeda and Pegasus. Some of thestars are labelled with their Greek letter and the three-letter abbreviation of theconstellation. The position of the Andromeda Galaxy is also shown.

(a) Circle the brightest star in the constellation Andromeda.(1)

(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?

.......................................................................................................................................(1)

(c) Light from the Andromeda Galaxy takes 2.2 million years to reach us on Earth. TheAndromeda Galaxy is 675 000pc away from us. Use this information to calculatehow many light years there are in 1 parsec. Give your answer to three significantfigures.

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(3)

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Q6

(Total 5 marks)

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ν And

γ And

β And α Andβ Peg

γ Peg α Peg

Andromeda Galaxy

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7. There was a transit of Venus in June 2004. This rare event was visible from many partsof the world.

(a) State what is meant by a transit.

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

.......................................................................................................................................(1)

(b) At which position in the orbit of Venus does a transit occur? Circle the correctanswer.

inferior conjunction greatest elongation opposition(1)

(c) Name one other planet that might be observed to undergo such a transit.

.......................................................................................................................................(1)

(d) Venus, the Sun and the Earth are aligned every 1 years. Explain why a transit ofVenus does not occur every 1 years.

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(2)

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Q7

(Total 5 marks)

*N21157A0824*

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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?

.......................................................................................................................................(1)

(b) On the day that the student made the sketch, sunrise occurred at 05:15 GMT andsunset occurred at 19:30 GMT. Give an approximate time of day at which the studentdrew the sketch.

.......................................................................................................................................(1)

(c) The student observed the Moon 8 days after the above sketch was made. Draw whatthe student saw.

(2)

(d) Describe the appearance of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse.

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

.......................................................................................................................................(2)

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Q8

(Total 6 marks)

*N21157A0924*

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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

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

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

................................................................................................................................(2)

(ii) How many times more light does the student’s telescope collect compared withone that has an objective lens of diameter 30 mm?

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

................................................................................................................................(2)

focal length of objectivemagnificationfocal length of eyepiece

=

Q9

(Total 7 marks)

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10. The photographs show four different nebulae. Nebulae are generally associated withcertain 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) ................................................................................................................................

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(ii) ................................................................................................................................

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Image courtesy of NASA

The Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant

(i) ................................................................................................................................

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

(ii) ................................................................................................................................

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

Image courtesy of NASA

The Orion Nebula, an emission nebula

(i) ................................................................................................................................

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

(ii) ................................................................................................................................

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

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Q10

(Total 8 marks)

*N21157A01324*

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11. The differences between Pluto and the other planets in the Solar System have led someastronomers 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.

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

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

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

................................................................................................................................(3)

(b) Many astronomers believe that Pluto is just one of a large number of similar objectsthat reside in the Kuiper Belt. Give three key facts about the Kuiper Belt.

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

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

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

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

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3 ....................................................................................................................................

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.......................................................................................................................................(3) Q11

(Total 6 marks)

*N21157A01424*

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12. Using the axes below sketch the Hertsprung-Russell diagram.

You should

• label the axes

• show and label the main components.

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Q12

(Total 5 marks)

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13. (a) The Perseids meteor shower occurs every year in August. The shower is so-namedbecause 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 Perseidsoccur every year.

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

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

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

................................................................................................................................(3)

(b) Many people confuse meteoroids and meteorites. State the difference between them.

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(2) Q13

(Total 5 marks)

*N21157A01624*

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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.

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(4)

(b) Calculate the time interval between a pulse being transmitted and received when theprobe was 300 km above the surface of Venus. (The speed of radio waves =300 000 km/s). Use the equation

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(2)

(c) Give a reason why radar could not be used to determine the distance from Earth to anouter planet such as Neptune.

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

.......................................................................................................................................(2)

distancespeedtime

=

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Q14

(Total 8 marks)

*N21157A01724*

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15. The diagram shows the constellation of Cepheus. Three of the brightest stars, α, β and δ,are labelled.

(a) Give the approximate coordinates of star α.

Right Ascension = ........................................................................................................

Declination = ................................................................................................................(2)

(b) State the approximate latitude on Earth from which star β could be seen directlyoverhead.

.......................................................................................................................................(1)

(c) Explain why it would be impossible to observe any of the planets in the constellationof Cepheus.

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

.......................................................................................................................................(2)

*N21157A01824*

Declination/degrees

+80

+75

+70

+65

+60

+550 23 22 21 20

Right Ascension/h

•

•

•

•

•

•

• ••

β

δ

α

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(d) Star δ is a Cepheid variable star. Explain how observations of Cepheid variables canbe used to determine the distance to a star.

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

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

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(4)

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Q15

(Total 9 marks)

*N21157A01924*

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16. (a) Give three facts about quasars.

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

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

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

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

3 ....................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................(3)

(b) How do observations of quasars support the generally accepted view that theUniverse is expanding?

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

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

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.......................................................................................................................................(2) Q16

(Total 5 marks)

*N21157A02024*

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17. The diagram shows the Sun and the orbit of the planet Saturn (not to scale).

(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 atperehelion.

(3)

(b) The greatest distance of a short-period comet from the Sun is 28 AU. Use the inversesquare law to determine by how many times the force of gravity of the Sun acting onthe comet is greater when the comet is at 0.70 AU compared with when it is at 28 AU.

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(2)

(c) State Kepler’s Third law of Planetary Motion.

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(2)

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Q17

(Total 7 marks)

*N21157A02124*

Sun

Orbit of Saturn

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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 areGreenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Sunrise Sunset

03:48 20:0903:44 20:1503:42 20:1903:43 20:2103:46 20:20

(i) Name the month.

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

(ii) Justify your answer.

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

................................................................................................................................(2)

(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 whattime (GMT) would this student observe that the Sun was due south?

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

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

................................................................................................................................(4) Q18

(Total 6 marks)

*N21157A02224*

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19. (a) Describe the Hubble classification of galaxies. (You may find it helpful to sketch theHubble “Tuning Fork” diagram.)

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

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(3)

(b) What type of galaxy is the Milky Way?

.......................................................................................................................................(1)

(c) Describe the observational evidence for the existence of black holes.

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(2)

Turn over

Q19

(Total 6 marks)

*N21157A02324*

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20. (a) Many astronomers believe that there is a serious risk that an asteroid may collide withthe Earth. Describe some of the evidence that has led astronomers to reach thisconclusion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(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 apparentmagnitude be from Earth which is 1000 times further away?

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

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................(4)

TOTAL FOR PAPER: 120 MARKS

END

*N21157A02424*

Q20

(Total 8 marks)