Question

Answer Notes Marks

number
1 a description including any six from: 6

MP1. nebula collapses / forms protostar; allow ‘contracts’

MP2. temperature / brightness of nebula /

protostar increases;

MP3. (when temperature becomes hot enough)

fusion starts and star becomes main
sequence;

MP4. brightness / temperature of main allow ‘size’ for mass

sequence star depends on its mass;

MP5. (when hydrogen runs out) main sequence

star becomes red giant;

MP6. red giants are brighter (than main

sequence);

MP7. red giants (surfaces) are cooler (than most

main sequence stars);

MP8. red giant becomes white dwarf;

MP9. white dwarfs are less bright (than red

giant / main sequence stars);

MP10. white dwarfs are hotter (than red giant /

most main sequence stars);

Total for Question 1 = 6 marks

 Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
2 (a) (a measurement of) the brightness (of a star); allow 2
measurement of
luminosity/power of a
star
apparent magnitude

at a standard distance; allow at 10 pc/32.6 ly.

condone incorrect
distance.

(b) correct absolute magnitude scale; i.e. going from +15 to -5 5

in regular intervals
x-axis labelled ‘colour’; condone ‘temperature’
main sequence top-left to bottom-right with clear
flatter region in the middle;
white dwarf region in bottom-left corner with part
of it in line with ‘white’ label on x-axis;
red giant region in top-right corner with part of it in
line with ‘red’ label on x-axis;

Total for Question 2 = 7 marks

 Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
3 MP1 nebula/gas cloud; 5

MP2 protostar;

MP3 main sequence (then red supergiant);

MP4 supernova;

MP5 neutron star/ black hole;

1 mark penalty for any
incorrect sequence

Total for Question 3 = 5 marks

Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
4 (a) any four correctly linked stages in star’s limit to 2 marks max. if incorrect 4
evolution: stages given e.g. red supergiant,
supernova, neutron star, black hole
allow cloud of dust/gas for nebula
allow main stage for main sequence
MP1. nebula to protostar;
MP2. protostar to main sequence;
MP3. main sequence to red giant;
MP4. red giant to white dwarf;
MP5. white dwarf to black dwarf;
allow 1 marking point if stage
missing e.g. nebula to main
sequence gets either MP1 or MP2
since protostar is missing

(b) stars use fusion, reactor uses fission; both needed 3

fusion detail e.g.;

• (fusion is the) joining of nuclei condone atoms for nuclei
• involves light nuclei e.g. hydrogen

fission detail e.g.;

• (fission is the) splitting of nuclei condone atoms for nuclei
• involves heavy nuclei e.g.
uranium/plutonium

Total for Question 4 = 7 marks

 Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
5 (a) A (blue-white); 1

B is incorrect because orange stars are cooler than blue-white stars

C is incorrect because red stars are cooler than blue-white stars
D is incorrect because yellow stars are cooler than blue-white stars

(b) any two from: 2

gas collapses / gas particles attract each other; condone ‘dust’ for ‘gas’

temperature (of the gas) increases; allow particles increase in KE

fusion starts/eq;

(c) two (small) nuclei; 3

join together (to produce a large nucleus);
releasing energy; allow gamma radiation

(d) (i) C (mass); 1

A is incorrect because colour is determined by the surface temperature

B is incorrect because distance determines its apparent brightness
D is incorrect because temperature determines the spectral class

(ii) any three from: 3

MP1. Rigel will become a red supergiant;
MP2. then contracts rapidly;
MP3. (explodes as a supernova) leaving a neutron
star;
MP4. (or) black hole;

Total for Question 5 = 10 marks

 Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
6 (a) Universe began as hot / dense point; allow idea that Universe 3
started as a single point
Universe has expanded since the Big Bang;
Universe has cooled since the Big Bang;

(b) any four from: 4

MP1. presence of cosmic microwave background allow CMBR
radiation;
MP2. CMBR comes from all directions; allow CMBR is uniform
MP3. CMBR (began as gamma radiation and)
wavelength increased (as Universe expanded);
MP4. red-shift of galaxies;
MP5. further/faster galaxies show a greater red-
shift;
MP6. red-shift indicates that galaxies are moving
away from each other;
MP7. relative abundance of helium; allow large amount of helium
MP8. helium formed when Universe was hot enough
to fuse protons;

Total for Question 6 = 7 marks

Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
7 kinetic; 6
main sequence;
contract;
expand;
supernova;
neutron star;

Total for Question 7 = 6 marks

 Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
8 (a) W marked between +10 and +15 absolute magnitude 1
and between blue and white/yellow colour marks;

(b) X marked between 0 and -5 absolute magnitude and 1

between yellow/red and end of colour scale;

(c) Y marked above and to the left of the Sun; judge by eye 1

(d) Z marked vertically in line with and below the Sun; judge by eye 1

(e) Any one from: 1

MP1. idea that the Moon does not emit its own
light;

MP2. Idea that the Moon is not a star

MP3. idea that the (surface) temperature of the

Moon is too low / does not fit on the scale;

Total for Question 8 = 5 marks

 Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
9 (a) (i) C (white); 1

A is incorrect because its temperature is the second

lowest
B is incorrect because its temperature is the lowest
D is incorrect because its temperature is the second
highest

(ii) D (white dwarf); 1

A is incorrect because the Sun is not massive

enough to form a black hole
B is incorrect because the Sun is not massive
enough to form a neutron star
C is incorrect because the Sun is not massive
enough to form a supernova

(iii) C (supernova); 1

A is incorrect because this is during the middle of

the life cycle
B is incorrect because this is an early stage of the
life cycle
D is incorrect because this is a late stage in the life
cycle of stars like our Sun

(b) arrow pointing from the comet to the star; accept any arrow 2
pointing from comet to
star within shaded area
ignore starting position
of arrow
force labelled ‘gravitational’; allow ‘gravity’ or
‘weight’

Total for Question 9 = 5 marks

 Question
Answer Notes Marks
number
10 (a) (i) B – main sequence stars; 1

A is not correct as black holes do not appear on the

HR diagram
C is not correct as neutron stars are not part of the
main sequence.
D is not correct as protostars are not part of the
main sequence

(ii) bottom left area of the HR diagram; unlabelled scores 0 1

(iii) top right hand area of HR diagram; unlabelled scores 0 1

(iv) a measure of brightness/luminosity; accept power 2

idea that a star would be at a standard distance (10 ignore lack of or
parsecs/32(.6) light years); incorrect value for
distance

(b) (i) C – ultraviolet; 1

A is not correct as microwaves cause internal

heating
B is not correct as radio waves do not give skin
burns
D is not correct as visible light cannot harm skin
cells.

(ii) A – sunbathing; 1

B, C and D are not correct as all reduce the

absorption of UV by skin.

Total for Question 10 = 7 marks