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A-level
PHYSICS
Paper 3
Section B Astrophysics

Monday 17 June 2024 Morning Time allowed: The total time for
Materials
both sections of this paper is
For this paper you must have: 2 hours. You are advised to
• a pencil and a ruler spend approximately
• a scientific calculator
• a Data and Formulae Booklet 50 minutes on this section.
• a protractor.
For Examiner’s Use
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Question Mark
• Fill in the boxes at the top of this page. 1
• Answer all questions.
2
• You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write
outside the box around each page or on blank pages. 3
• If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of 4
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s).
TOTAL
• Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want
to be marked.
• Show all your working.

Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 35.
• You are expected to use a scientific calculator where appropriate.
• A Data and Formulae Booklet is provided as a loose insert.

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Section B box

Answer all questions in this section.

0 1 A student uses a refracting telescope in normal adjustment to make

observations of Jupiter.
The telescope has an angular magnification of 75

0 1 . 1 The eyepiece has a focal length of 22 mm.

Determine the distance between the eyepiece and the objective lens.
[2 marks]

distance = m

0 1 . 2 When viewed through the telescope, the image of Jupiter subtends an angle
of 1.7 × 10−2 rad.

Calculate, in km, the distance between the Earth and Jupiter.

mean radius of Jupiter = 7.0 × 104 km

[2 marks]

distance = km

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The student places a cap over one end of the telescope. The cap has a circular hole box

in its centre.
Figure 1 shows the end of the telescope, the objective lens and the cap.

Figure 1

0 1 . 3 State and explain the effect that the addition of the cap has on the chromatic
aberration caused by the lens.
[3 marks]

0 1 . 4 Explain two other effects that the addition of the cap has on the image of Jupiter.
[4 marks]

11

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0 2 The apparent change in position of a nearby star relative to distant stars is due to an box

effect known as parallax.

Figure 2 shows how parallax arises. As the Earth moves from point P to point Q, an
observer on the Earth sees the position of a nearby star S change in relation to distant
stars.

Figure 2

Angle A is the parallax angle. This angle can be used to determine the distance to a
nearby star, provided that the relative motion between the star and the Sun is
negligible between observations.

0 2 . 1 The distance from the Sun to S is 79 ly.

The Earth takes 6 months to move from point P to point Q.

Calculate, in degrees, angle A.

[2 marks]

A= °

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0 2 . 2 Parallax is used to determine the distance to a different star. Observations of the star box

produce the following data:

distance determined using parallax = 0.40 pc

apparent magnitude = 13.5
absolute magnitude = 16.7

An astronomer suggests that the star moved significantly relative to the Sun between
the two parallax observations.

Discuss whether this suggestion is valid.

[4 marks]

Turn over ►

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0 3 . 1 Figure 3 shows the variation of intensity with wavelength for a star. box

Figure 3

Show that Figure 3 is consistent with a black-body temperature of about 6.0 × 103 K.
[2 marks]

0 3 . 2 The radius of the star is 9.6 × 106 m.

Calculate the power output of the star.

[2 marks]

power output = W

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0 3 . 3 Which row gives the type and spectral class of the star? box

Tick () one box.

[1 mark]

Type of star Spectral class

white dwarf F

main sequence G

red giant K

main sequence F

red giant G

white dwarf K

0 3 . 4 The light from the star passes through an interstellar dust cloud before reaching Earth.
The reduction in intensity when light passes through a dust cloud is assumed to be
inversely proportional to the wavelength of the light.

An astronomer on the Earth estimates the black-body temperature of the star.

Discuss the effect that the dust cloud has on this estimate.
[2 marks]

Turn over ►

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DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAGE

ANSWER IN THE SPACES PROVIDED

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0 4 The Earth is in the galaxy known as the Milky Way. The Andromeda Galaxy is one of box

the closest galaxies to the Milky Way.

0 4 . 1 The Andromeda Galaxy approaches the Milky Way at a speed of 110 km s−1.
The distance between the galaxies is 770 kpc.

Discuss whether these data can be used to estimate an age for the Universe.
[2 marks]

0 4 . 2 There is a supermassive black hole at the centre of the Andromeda Galaxy. The
mass of this black hole is 1.60 × 108 solar masses.

Calculate the radius of the event horizon of this black hole.

State an appropriate unit for your answer.
[3 marks]

radius =

unit =

Question 4 continues on the next page

Turn over ►

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0 4 . 3 Scientists predict that a quasar will be produced as the Milky Way and the Andromeda box
box

Galaxy merge.

Explain what is meant by a quasar.

Go on to suggest why a quasar may be produced as galaxies merge.

In your answer you should:

• describe the typical properties of a quasar

• explain how observations of quasars provide evidence for these properties
• suggest the process of quasar formation that is likely when two galaxies merge.
[6 marks]

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11

END OF QUESTIONS

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ANSWER IN THE SPACES PROVIDED

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box
Question Additional page, if required.
number Write the question numbers in the left-hand margin.

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box
Question Additional page, if required.
number Write the question numbers in the left-hand margin.

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Question Additional page, if required.
number Write the question numbers in the left-hand margin.

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DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAGE

ANSWER IN THE SPACES PROVIDED

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