Physics GCSE: Space
Exam-Style Questions
1. What planets are known as the terrestrial planets? (Marks available: 2) Answer outline and marking scheme for question: 1 The four inner planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. (Marks available: 2) 2. What two effects do the seasons have on the Earth? (Marks available: 2) Answer outline and marking scheme for question: 2 The length of the day and night. The temperature and weather, due to the intensity of the sun. (Marks available: 2) 3. The "big bang" theory is one theory of the origin of the Universe. a) Explain what is meant by the "big bang" theory (2 Marks) b) One piece of evidence for the "big bang" theory is "red-shift" i) What is "red-shift"? (1 Mark) ii) Explain how "red-shift" leads to the "big bang" theory. (4 Marks) (Marks available: 7) Answer outline and marking scheme for question: 3 a) any two from: - (may have) strated with a (huge) explosion
- billions of years ago
- from one place
(2 Marks) b) i) light (from galaxies) is moved towards red end of spectrum (1 Mark) ii) - galaxies (1)
- red-shift means galaxies nocing away (1)
- the futher away the bigger the red-shift
- the bigger the red-shift the fatser its moving
- the farest galaxies are moving away fastest (any of these 1)
- Universe is expanding (1)
(4 Marks) (Marks available: 7) 4. The table shows some data about the planets of the Sun.
| Planet |
Distance from Sun (millions of km) |
Average surface temperature (°C) |
Density (kg/m3) |
Surface gravity (N/kg) |
Time of orbit (years) |
| Venus |
108 |
470 |
5200 |
9 |
0.6 |
| Earth |
150 |
15 |
5500 |
10 |
1.0 |
| Mars |
228 |
-30 |
4000 |
5 |
1.9 |
| Jupiter |
778 |
-150 |
1300 |
26 |
12 |
| Saturn |
1427 |
-180 |
700 |
11 |
30 |
| Pluto |
5900 |
-230 |
500 |
4 |
248 |
5. Use the information from the table to answer the following questions.
a) Which planet takes the longest time to go round the Sun?
(1 Mark)
b) Pluto is mainly gas.
How can we tell this from the table?
(1 Mark)
c) i) What information suggets that Jupiter has the largest mass?
(1 Mark)
ii) On which planet would you have the least weight?
(1 Mark)
(Marks available: 4)
Answer outline and marking scheme for question: 4
a) Pluto
(1 Mark)
b) low density
(1 Mark)
c) i) Largest value of surface gravity
ii) Pluto
(2 Marks)
(Marks available: 4)
6. a) Types of centripetal forces
(3 Marks)
b) i) What are the two main types of satellites
(2 Marks)
ii) What is the role of these satellites
(2 Marks)
c) When does the highest (spring tide) occur
(1 Mark)
(Marks available: 8)
Answer outline and marking scheme for question: 5
a) Friction, Gravity, Tension
(3 Marks)
b) i)Geo-stationary orbit satellites
Polar orbit satellites
(2 Marks)
ii) Geo-stationary orbit - communications
Polar orbit satellite - weather forecasting/ spying
(2 Marks)
c) When the moon and Sun are pulling in the same direction
(1 Mark)
(Marks available: 8)
