Theory: answer all nine questions. Show working and appropriate units; diagrams and alternative valid methods are marked against the original scheme.
(a)Fig. 8.1 shows a nebula after a supernova. State what a supernova is.
Answer guidance
State A short answer. No explanation is needed, and adding one cannot earn extra marks.
[2 marks]
(b)Describe how a protostar forms within the Fig. 8.1 nebula.
Answer guidance
Describe Say what happens, in order. Reasons are not required unless the question also asks why.
[2 marks]
(c)(i)The paper describes the Sun orbiting the centre of our galaxy. Name that galaxy.
Answer guidance
State A short answer. No explanation is needed, and adding one cannot earn extra marks.
[1 mark]
(c)(ii)Define a light-year.
[1 mark]
(c)(iii)The paper gives a circular Sun orbit of radius 26 000 light-years and period 7.3 × 10¹⁵ s. Given 1 year = 3.2 × 10⁷ s and light speed 3.0 × 10⁸ m/s, calculate orbital speed in m/s, showing working.
[3 marks]
5054/22/M/J/24Cambridge O Level Physics 5054 · May/June 2024 · Paper 2 variant 2 · Question 8