O-LevelPhysicsNuclear Physics5054/22 · May/June 2024 · Q89 Marks
Fig. 8.1 is a picture of a nebula formed from a supernova. [Figure 8.1]
- (a)State what is meant by 'a supernova'.[2]
- (b)Describe how a protostar forms inside a nebula.[2]
- (c)(i)Our Sun is in a circular orbit around a black hole at the centre of our galaxy. State the name of the galaxy that contains our Sun.[1]
- (c)(ii)State what is meant by a light-year.[1]
- (c)(iii)The time taken for one complete orbit of our Sun around the black hole is 7.3 x 10¹⁵s. The distance from our Sun to the black hole is 26000 light-years. 1 year = 3.2 × 10⁷ s speed of light = 3.0 x 10⁸ m/s Calculate the speed of our Sun as it orbits the black hole. Show your working and give your answer in m/s. speed =[3]
This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.
Mark scheme
Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.
- 8(a) explosion
- 8(a) explosion of a red giant / massive star (at the end of its life cycle)
- 8(b) clouds of dust / gas come together / collapse
- 8(b) due to gravitational attraction or resulting in an increase in temperature
- 8(c)(i) milky way
- 8(c)(ii) distance travelled by light in one year
- 8(c)(iii) (speed = ) distance / time or 2πR / T in any form
- 8(c)(iii) 2π × 26 000 × 3 × 10⁸ x 3.2 x 10⁷ seen
- 8(c)(iii) 210 000 (m/s)
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