You may use a calculator. You should show all your working and use appropriate units. Take the weight of 1.0 kg to be 9.8 N (acceleration of free fall = 9.8 m/s²).
(a)
The Sun is a star in a stable part of its life cycle.
Using ideas about forces, explain how the Sun remains stable in this part of its life cycle.
Answer guidance
Explain Give reasons, not just what happens. Each distinct reason is usually worth a mark.
[2 marks]
(b)
Describe what happens to stars of similar mass to the Sun at the end of the stable part of their life cycle.
Answer guidance
Describe Say what happens, in order. Reasons are not required unless the question also asks why.
[3 marks]
(c)
The orbital speed of Earth around the Sun is 30 km / s. Use this value to calculate the distance of Earth from the Sun.
Show your working. State the unit of your answer.
distance = ...................................... unit = ..........
Answer guidance
Show The result is given, so every step of the reasoning is what earns the marks.
[3 marks]
(d)(i)
The light emitted by distant galaxies show various amounts of redshift.
State the name of the galaxy that contains our Sun.
Answer guidance
State A short answer. No explanation is needed, and adding one cannot earn extra marks.
[1 mark]
(d)(ii)
State what is meant by redshift and describe how it is caused.
Answer guidance
Explain Give reasons, not just what happens. Each distinct reason is usually worth a mark.
[2 marks]
(d)(iii)
An astronomer compares the spectrum of light emitted by the Sun with the spectrum of light emitted by distant galaxies P and Q.
Fig. 10.1 shows the same four lines as observed in all three spectrums.
State what Fig. 10.1 enables the astronomer to deduce about galaxy P and galaxy Q.
Explain the astronomer’s reasons in your answer.
Answer guidance
Explain Give reasons, not just what happens. Each distinct reason is usually worth a mark.
[2 marks]
5054/02/SP/23Cambridge O Level Physics 5054 · Specimen 2023 · Paper 2 · Question 10