P2 topic 11 Exploring the solar system

Question 1

which planet in the Solar System has the largest side real period

Answer 1

neptune

Question 2

which planet has the highest surface temperature

Answer 2

Venus

Question 3

Which planet has a diameter similar to earth

Answer 3

venus

Question 4

A teacher tells students that ‘the planets can be split into two groups of four, with significant differences between the two groups’

Answer 4

The teacher is correct, because of the major differences in any three of:
(relative) size (1)
(relative) mass (1)
number of moons (1)
presence of ring systems (1)

Question 5

which dwarf planet in the solar system has the largest number of moons

Answer 5

Pluto (1)

Question 6

which dwarf planet in the solar system has the highest surface temperature

Answer 6

Ceres (1)

Question 7

From where do more short-period comets originate

Answer 7

kuiper belt

Question 8

An astronomers states that ‘long period comets can travel much further from the Sun and take much monger to orbit than short-period comets’.State two further ways in which the orbit of a long-period comet can be different from that of a short-period comet.

Answer 8

Any two of:
(long-period comet)…
can have ‘open’ orbit (1)
can orbit in any ‘sense’ (1)
have orbits with high inclinations (1)

Question 9

name 2 features of a comet

Answer 9

Nucleus
Tail(s)

Question 10

Which of the space probe orbited two major bodies in the Asteroid Belt, revealing the presence of water on the dwarf planet Ceres?

Answer 10

Dawn

Question 11

Which space probes studied Pluto’s moons and discovered the unusual Kuiper Belt Object Ultima Thule?

Answer 11

New horizons

Question 12

Describe the purpose of the Philae space mission

Answer 12

(Soft-) landing on a comet (1)
To analyse water / ice (1)

Question 13

Suggest one advantage of an unmanned space mission

Answer 13

Human safety (1)
Relative cost (1)

Question 14

Suggest one advantage of a manned space mission.

Answer 14

The feeling of actually ‘being there’ (1)
Ability to make decisions and alter procedures (1)

Question 15

The main objective of the Apollo space programme was to send humans to the Moon and return them safely back to Earth.
(i) State two further scientific objectives of the Apollo space programme

Answer 15

Collect and return lunar rocks (1)
Deploy scientific instruments on the Moon (1)

Question 16

Suggest why lunar rovers were employed on the surface of the Moon.

Answer 16

Increase scope of exploration (1)
Help to collect samples of more rock types (1) Help to carry rocks to Apollo module (1)

Question 17

All the successful Apollo missions, astronauts landed on the near side of the Moon.
Suggest why there were no planned missions to the Moon’s far side.

Answer 17

Out of radio contact with mission control

Question 18

Figure 3 shows the giant Saturn V three-stage rocket that was developed to launch each Apollo spacecraft into Earth-orbit and then onwards to the Moon.Suggest why such a large and powerful rocket was needed for these tasks

Answer 18

Need to overcome Earth’s ‘gravity’
Need to reach escape velocity

Question 19

After some successful missions, the third stage of the Saturn V rocket was deliberately crashed onto the Moon’s surface.
Suggest a reason for this.

Answer 19

To set up Moonquakes so that seismometers or so could be calibrated / detect seismic waves (

Question 20

Describe the method proposed by astronomer Edmond Halley to determine the size of the astronomical unit.

Answer 20

Observe (and time) transit of Venus (1)… …from different latitudes (1).
Relate angular distances between different paths to distances by triangulation (1)

Question 21

The invention and use of the telescope made significant improvements in the accuracy, range and detail of observations that are possible.
(a) State two limitations of the unaided human eye.

Answer 21

Small aperture (
Poor sensitivity in low light levels
Limited resolution (can’t see clearly)

Question 22

Describe two of the telescopic observations made by the astronomer Galileo Galilei that helped to dismiss the Earth-centred (geocentric) model of the Universe.

Answer 22

Venus showed changing phases and size, 4 moons orbiting Jupiter