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Astronomy GCSE Edexcel > What I got wrong in past papers > Flashcards

What I got wrong in past papers Flashcards

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1
Q

What does orion’s belt point to?

A

Sirius

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2
Q

What is meant by the local group?

A

Galaxies close to us

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3
Q

What is the diagonal band in the Hertzsprung - Russell Diagram known as?

A

Main sequence

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4
Q

Where are white dwarfs in the Hertzsprung Russell diagram?

A

Top right

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5
Q

Where are red giants in the Hertzsprung Russell diagram?

A

Bottom left

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6
Q

How do astronomers observe neutron stars?

A

Neutron stars emit radio waves in bursts/pulses

They use radio telescopes to observe these

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7
Q

Where is the proposed origin of long period comets?

A

The Oort Cloud

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8
Q

At what distance is the apparent magnitude of a star equal to its absolute magnitude?

A

10pc

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9
Q

What is supposedly younger, Terrae or Maria?

A

Maria

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10
Q

Why are the world’s largest telescopes reflectors rather than refractors?

A

Mirrors let more light in meaning higher resolution

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11
Q

What’s an astronomical object that an X-ray astronomer might observe?

A

Sun’s Corona

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12
Q

State two key facts about Quasars:

A

High redshifts and AGN at the centre

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13
Q

How were Quasars discovered?

A

Lunar occulation
Strong radio sources
Highly redshifted absorption lines

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14
Q

What information can you obtain from the Messier Catalogue?

A

Which nebulae/clusters are visible

Location of nebulae

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15
Q

How was CMB radiation discovered?

A

Radio noise

Radiation measured from all directions

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16
Q

What is the significance of the ‘ripples’ in CMB radiation?

A

Distribution of matter/galaxies

Evidence for dark matter/energy

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17
Q

Which was the first member of our solar system to be discovered using photographs?

A

Pluto

18
Q

Describe the appearance of an open cluster:

A

Fuzzy, faint, few bright stars visible

19
Q

Why can lunar eclipses be observed more often than solar eclipses?

A

Because the Earth is bigger than the moon in relativity to the sun so more of the Earth can see the lunar eclipse

20
Q

How does solar wind cause aurorae?

A

charged particles react with atoms in the atmosphere which emits fluorescence light

21
Q

Why is the dust tail of a comet slightly curved?

A

dust particles spread out due to independent orbits

22
Q

What absorbs IR radiation in the atmosphere

A

Carbon Dioxide

23
Q

How were the van allen belts discovered?

A

discovered by geiger counter

24
Q

Describe the doppler principle:

A

change in wavelength due to relative motion between source and observer

25
Q

What are circumpolar stars?

A

Stars that don’t set

26
Q

What is averted vision?

A

Not looking directly at an object; observing slightly to the side

27
Q

What does the two most right stars of the plough point to?

A

Polaris

28
Q

What type of star lies at the centre of a planetary nebula?

A

White dwarf

29
Q

What do astronomers use to detect black holes?

A

Microwaves

30
Q

What is the approx diameter of the Milky Way?

A

30kpc

31
Q

Why is it not possible to map the spiral arms using visible light?

A

Dust absorbs visible light

32
Q

Why is it important to monitor the motion of PHOs?

A

To predict if an impact is likely

33
Q

What is the significance of white patches on the sun?

A

Strong x-ray emitters, very high temperature, site of solar flare

34
Q

Why does h-alpha improve observations of the sun?

A

Shows the atmosphere

35
Q

Why would radio communication be a major problem on a space mission to mars?

A

Large distances - time delays

36
Q

What is the physical nature of Saturns rings?

A

Not solid, thin

37
Q

What is the chemical composition of Saturns rings?

A

Rock/ice

Frozen gases

38
Q

How was CMB discovered?

A

In 1965 by penzias and Wilson using horn antenna

39
Q

What was the specific purpose of WMAP?

A

To study ripples or variations in CMB radiation

40
Q

What is the significance of WMAP’s observations to cosmologists?

A

Refine models of early universe

Estimate the proportions of dark matter/energy

41
Q

How do astronomers use the spectrum of a star to classify its spectral type?

A

Astronomers compare the relative strength of H, He and metals
Relative amounts relate to O,B,A etc

42
Q

What is the significance of the ecliptic on a star chart?

A

Shows motion/path of the sun

Astronomy GCSE Edexcel (6 decks)

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