Core - Topic 1.3 - Space Flashcards
Some scientists look for signs of water on other planets. Suggest why they do this.
water is needed for life see if we could live there could sustain life water gives possibility of life a definite statement that water shows life scores ZERO e.g. prove that there is life there shows signs of life
The Earth is 150 000 000 km from the Sun. It takes light 500 s to reach the Earth from the Sun. Calculate the speed of light in km/s. (3) speed = ………………………………………………………………….. km/s
substitution (1)e.g. 150 000 000 500 evaluation (1) 3 (00 000) evaluation consistent with unit (1) 300 000 (km/s)
Explain why photographs from telescopes in space show the nebula more clearly.
An explanation linking any two from • (telescope {above / out of}) {atmosphere/air} (1) • dust/clouds/obstructions etc (in atmosphere) (1) • no light pollution in space (1)
(ii) A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust where stars are formed. A hot object forms when gas and dust in a nebula come together. Explain why the gas and dust come together and form a hot object. (2)
An explanation linking the following • pulled together by gravity (1) • (converting) {potential / kinetic} energy to {thermal/heat} (1)
Scientists search for signs of life on the planet Mars. Describe one method they use to search for signs of life on the planet Mars.
Telescope (inc. radio telescopes) Lander (e.g. robots/drones) Orbiter / Satellite has camera / takes photos / collecting samples (e.g rocks) / analyse atmosphere / climate / signs of water / gases that will support life / can test for water/nutrients
Many telescopes are used on the Earth but the Kepler space telescope orbits above the Earth’s atmosphere. Explain why telescopes that search for planets are not on the Earth’s surface.
(on Earth) image is distorted / image not bright enough (ORA) (1) planets very small / far away (1) atmosphere (in way) / light pollution (1) can detect different parts of em spectrum (that are not detectable on Earth) (1) can keep it pointed at the same spot more easily (1)
Jodrell Bank is located near Manchester, whereas Hubble and Compton are in space. Explain why some telescopes are located outside the Earth’s atmosphere. (2)
• above the clouds / no clouds/ no weather (1) • image is clearer/more detailed/ not distorted/not blurred (1) • no light pollution (1) • (some) telescopes use gamma/ X-rays/ultraviolet /infrared/microwaves (1) • no absorption (by atmosphere) of gamma/ Xrays/ ultraviolet
Describe how modern telescopes have contributed to our understanding of the Universe.
improved QUALITY eg higher or better magnification/ detail/resolution or clearer/brighter image OR MORE INFORMATION (than with naked eye) of image/data eg new planets/stars/nebulae/pulsars (This could be extra detail for greater magnification/resolution only) • detection of (non-visible) electromagnetic WAVES eg Xray / UV / IR/ radio • TECHNOLOGY that enable collection of more data eg reflecting telescope/arrays and/or additions eg computer-aided /photographic connections or larger (objective) lens/mirror • POSITION of telescopes – eg orbital/outside atmos/on top of mountains/away from atmosphere/rays not absorbed/obscured/scattered by atmosphere. Ignore ‘Hubble’ or ‘Compton’.
These are four stages in the evolution of a star similar to the Sun. They are not in the correct order. 1. main sequence star 2. white dwarf 3. red giant 4. nebula Write down the stages in the correct order.
nebula main sequence (star) (1) AND red giant white dwarf (1) All Four in correct order for 2 marks
For many years scientists have searched for evidence of intelligent life in our Solar System and in the rest of the Universe. Describe the methods scientists have used to help with this search in both our Solar System and the rest of the Universe.
A description including some of the following points In Solar System • Use of telescopes • Search for evidence of conditions needed for life e.g. water/oxygen/bacteria on other planets • Manned missions (to the Moon) • Unmanned missions/probes to other planets e.g. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury • Landers / robots / rovers sample soil • Information transmitted back to Earth Throughout the Universe • Search for extra-terrestrial intelligence (SETI) • Use radio telescopes • Search for (regular pattern of) radio signals • Search for other planetary systems • Discovery of other planetary systems (capable of supporting life) • Broadcasting signals/ sending out messages (to extra terrestrial intelligences) (6)
Describe how the Sun reached its main sequence stage. (3)
A description including three from: MP1 in a nebula (1) MP2 (particles) attracted / come together by (force of) gravity (1) MP3 pe/ke transferred to thermal/heat energy (gas begins to glow and forms protostar) (1) MP4 until {hot / pressure / dense} enough to start nuclear reaction /fusion (1)
Scientists can estimate the age of a star. They want to find the age of the oldest star. Suggest why knowing the age of the oldest star is not enough to tell scientists the age of the Universe. (2)
A suggestion involving two from: MP1 the oldest star had not yet appeared when the {Big Bang happened / universe started}(1) MP2 the Universe is older than the oldest star MP3 star takes time to form (1) MP4 can’t be certain of this time (1)
Edwin Hubble discovered that the Universe was expanding. He did this by using observations of red-shift. Explain what red-shift is and how it provides evidence that the Universe is expanding.
An explanation including some of the following points light shifted to red end of spectrum light waves are stretched so wavelength increases reference to black or spectral lines moving to ‘red end’ (of absorption spectrum) frequency of wave from a moving source changes decrease in frequency means source moving away increase in frequency means source moving towards us red shift shows galaxies are moving away from us greater red shift indicates galaxy moving away faster further away galaxies give greater red shift (nearly) all galaxies show red-shift red shift shows decrease in frequency blue shift shows increase in frequency therefore galaxies are moving apart [mention of Doppler effect] [outline of Doppler effect]
Some visible light telescopes are located in space. Other visible light telescopes are located on the Earth’s surface. Explain why the images produced by telescopes on Earth are less clear than the images produced by telescopes in space.
An explanation linking any two of (presence of Earth’s ) atmosphere (1) causes light to be absorbed/reduced in intensity (1) causes distortion of the image(1) (more) light pollution (1) (bigger) variations in temperature (1)
Scientists have studied stars to discover how stars evolve. They know that stars form in a nebula when clouds of dust and gas are pulled together by gravity. Describe how this process continues for stars much more massive than the Sun. (4)
An explanation linking any three of galaxies moving (1) away from Earth / Sun (1) galaxy 2 (moving away) faster (than galaxy 1) (1) galaxy 2 is (likely to be) most distant galaxy (1)
