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6.1 Earth & The Solar

System

Question Paper

Course CIE IGCSE Physics

Section6. Space Physics

Topic 6.1 Earth & The Solar System

Di cultyHard

Time allowed: 80

Score: /60

Percentage: /100

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Question 1a
The statements below describe some of the objects which are found in the Solar

System. For each description state the name of the object.

(i)
The fifth planet from the
Sun. [1]

(ii)
A rocky minor planet located between Mars and
Jupiter. [1]

(iii)
A ball of ice and dust whose orbit takes it beyond the Solar
System. [1]

(iv)
One of a number of small, rocky objects orbiting
Jupiter. [1]

[4 marks]

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Question 1b
The Earth-Moon system creates e ects which can be observed from Earth.

(i)
Tick the statements which are correct.

□ The Earth orbits the Sun once every 365 days

□ The Moon takes five weeks to orbit the Earth
□ The Moon's phases change on a regular cycle
□ Day and night on Earth are caused by the Moon's orbit
[2]

(ii)
Sketch and explain the appearance of the Moon two weeks after a New Moon.

You may use your diagram to support your explanation.

[4]

[6 marks]

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Question 2a
Extended

A comet enters the Solar System from beyond the orbit of Pluto.

(i)
State the direction in which the comet
travels. [1]

(ii)
State how the strength of the Sun's gravitational field changes as the distance from the Sun
decreases. [1]

(iii)
State how the speed of the comet changes as it enters the Solar
System. [1]

[3 marks]

Question 2b
Extended

Mercury is nearer to the Sun than Saturn.

(i)
Compare the orbital speeds of Mercury and Saturn. Explain your answer.
[3]

(ii)
Compare the length of the year on Saturn to a year on Mercury.

Explain any di erences which you mention in your answer.

[3]

[6 marks]

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Question 3a
A student states that the nearest star to Earth is Proxima Centauri.

Explain what is wrong with this statement.

[1 mark]

Question 3b
Extended

Light from Proxima Centauri takes 2 200 000 minutes to reach the Earth. Light from the Sun takes 8.3 minutes to reach the
Earth.

The distance from the Sun to the Earth is defined as being 1 astronomical unit (AU).

For the distance to Proxima Centauri

(i)
Calculate the distance in metres.
[3]
(ii)
Use the ratio method to determine the distance in terms of astronomical
units [2]

[5 marks]

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Question 3c
A light year is the distance that light travels in one year.

Astronomers usually give the distance from stars in terms of light years rather than using metres and kilometres.

Suggest a reason for this.

[2 marks]

Question 4a
Extended

Explain why the orbital speeds of the gas giants are slower than those of the rocky planets.

[3 marks]

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Question 4b
The data table in Fig. 1 shows data on the four inner planets.

Mean distance from Orbital period / Surface gravity /

Surface temp / °C Density / kg/m3
3 24
Diameter / 10 km Mass / 10 kg
Sun / millions km days N/kg

Mercury 57.9 88 350 5427 4.8 3.7

Venus 108.2 225 460 5243 12.1 8.9
Earth 149.6 365 20 5514 12.8 5.97 9.8
Mars 227.9 687 23 3933 6.8 3.7

Fig. 1

Estimate whether the missing masses of Mercury, Venus and Mars, are larger, smaller or very similar to the mass of Earth,
referring to the data to support your answer.

(i)
Mercury

[3]
(ii)
Venus
[3]
(iii)
Mars

[3]

[9 marks]

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Question
4c
Extended

Select data from the table to support the use of Newton's Laws of Motion when calculating for orbital motion.

Explain your choice.

[7 marks]

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Question 5a
Extended

The orbital speeds of comets are not

constant. Describe and explain how the

speed changes.

[5 marks]

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Question 5b
Extended

Fig. 1 shows Jupiter and the orbits of two of its moons, Ganymede and Europa.

The positions of the two moons are marked for various dates.

The radius of Europa’s orbit is 671 000 km. The radius of Ganymede’s orbit is 1 070 000 km

Fig.1.

Determine the time for Ganymede to complete one orbit of Jupiter.

[1 mark]

Question
5c
Extended

Calculate the distance from Europa to Ganymede on 8 June.

[3 marks]

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Question 5d
Describe and explain how the distance between Europa and Ganymede changes during three orbits of Europa.

[5 marks]

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