IGCSEScienceEdexcelScience (Double Award) (Modular)Physics Unit 2Exam Questions9. AstrophysicsStellar Evolution

Stellar Evolution (Edexcel IGCSE Science (Double Award) (Modular): Physics Unit 2): Exam Questions

Exam code: 4XSD1

1 hour8 questions
Easy
Medium
Hard
1a
3 marks

The sentence gives information about the life cycle of a star. 

Add words from the box in the gaps to make a sentence that is correct. 

electron             supernova             giant             dwarf             momentum            neutron

 A very dense .................................. star is left behind when a large red .................................. star blows up in an explosion called a ..................................

How did you do?

1b
1 mark

Which of the following statements is a property used to classify stars?

  • Radius

  • Distance from the Earth

  • The times when it is visible to observers on Earth

  • Colour

Choose your answer

1c
3 marks

Draw lines between the colour and the temperature to show the correct colour and temperature of the stars.

Six labelled boxes arranged in two columns. The left column reads hot, medium temperature and cold from top to bottom. The right column reads red, blue and yellow from top to bottom. No lines are drawn between the columns.

How did you do?

2a
2 marks

This paragraph is from a website.

A star forms when enough dust and gas are pulled together. Masses smaller than a star may also be formed when dust and gas are pulled together.

(i) State the name of the force that pulls the dust and gas together.

[1]

(ii) State the name of the mass smaller than a star that may form when the gas and dust are pulled together.

[1]

How did you do?

2b
3 marks

The diagram shows part of the life cycle of a star with a similar mass to the Sun.

black dwarf nebula fusion white dwarf main sequence star

Use words from the box to label the stages in the life cycle.

A vertical flow diagram of four stages of a star's life cycle, with a labelling box beside each. At the top is a cluster of small dots. An arrow points down from it to a small circle, then a second arrow down to a much larger circle, then a third arrow down to a small circle again. Four boxes run down the right-hand side, one level with each stage. The first, second and fourth boxes are empty. The third box, level with the large circle, already reads Red Giant.

How did you do?

3a
3 marks

Describe how stars are formed.

How did you do?

3b
3 marks

Add words from the box in the gaps to make the sentences correct.

decay balanced fission resultant forces fusion forces

(i) Nuclear ...................................... releases energy inside stars.

[1]

(ii) A star is stable during the 'main sequence' period in its life because the ...................................... within it are ...................................... .

[2]

How did you do?

3c
4 marks

The life cycle of a star after the 'main sequence' period depends on the size of the star. A particular star is much larger in size than the Sun.

Complete the stages of the life cycle of this star.

Flow chart showing the life cycle of a star after the main sequence, with five empty boxes to be completed. A box labelled Main Sequence sits at the top, with an arrow pointing down to an empty box, which has an arrow pointing down to a second empty box. Two arrows branch down from that second empty box to two further empty boxes side by side on the bottom row.

How did you do?

1a
1 mark

The diagram shows some incomplete notes about a stellar process. An astronomer left the notes to a colleague for them to decipher.

A vertical flow diagram of five labelled boxes joined by downward arrows. Stage 1 reads a massive cloud of dust and gas in space. Stage 2 reads gravity pulls the cloud together. Stage 3 reads certain smaller nuclei join together to make bigger nuclei. The Stage 4 box is taller than the others and is empty apart from its label. Stage 5 reads the star eventually becomes unstable, an outer layer of dust and gas is ejected leaving behind a core, and the core collapses due to gravity.

Identify the process described in the diagram.

How did you do?

1b
1 mark

The colleague wants to include some extra detail in stage 3.

Which of the following correctly describes the physical process outlined in stage 3 and the 'smaller nuclei' and 'bigger nuclei' that are mentioned?

 

physical process

smaller nucleus

larger nucleus

A

nuclear fission

hydrogen 

helium

B

nuclear fusion 

helium

hydrogen

C

nuclear fission

helium

hydrogen

D

nuclear fusion

hydrogen

helium

    Choose your answer

    1c
    1 mark

    The longest stage in this process is

    • stage 2

    • stage 3

    • stage 4

    • stage 5

    Choose your answer

    1d
    4 marks

    (i) State the name given to the star in stage 4.

    [1]

    (ii) Explain what happens in stage 4.

    [3]

    How did you do?

    2a
    4 marks

    The colour of visible light a star emits tells us how hot or cold it is.

    The table contains the colour classifications of the visible light emitted from stars. 

    Place a number from 1 − 7 in each box to put them in order from hottest (1) to coolest (7). 

    Colour

    Number

    Yellow-white

     

    Blue

     

    Red

     

    Yellow

     

    Yellow-orange

     

    White

     

    Blue-white

     

    How did you do?

    2b
    5 marks

    (i) Identify and explain the coolest stage of a star's life cycle.

    [2]

    (ii) Identify and explain the final stage and colour in the life cycle of a star similar in size to the Sun.

    [3]

    How did you do?

    2c
    2 marks

    Explain how stars like the Sun are formed.

    How did you do?

    3a
    2 marks

    Most of the stars in the universe are main sequence stars, including the Sun. 

    Describe the similarities between main sequence stars.

    How did you do?

    3b
    2 marks

    The table gives some statements about the relationship between a star's colour and its surface temperature.

    Add ticks (✓) to the table to show which two statements are correct.

    Statement

    Correct (✓)

    red stars have a relatively high temperature

    blue stars have a relatively high temperature

    yellow stars have a relatively low temperature

    blue-white stars have a relatively low temperature

    How did you do?

    3c
    4 marks

    The table shows the colour and surface temperature of several known stars.

    Colour

    Surface Temperature (K)

    Example

    red

    < 3500

    Betelgeuse

    orange

    3500 - 5000

    Aldebaran

    yellow

    5000 - 6000

    Sun

    yellow-white

    6000 - 7500

    Canopus

    white

    7500 - 10 000

    Vega

    blue-white

    10 000 - 25 000

    Rigel

    blue

    > 25 000

    10 Lacertae

    (i) Identify a star with a temperature of 7000 K.

    [1]

    (ii) Identify a star with a temperature of 2000 K.

    [1]

    (iii) Suggest which of the stars you identified is likely to be the largest. Give a reason for your answer.

    [2]

    How did you do?

    1a
    8 marks

    The table shows the 5 stages of the life cycle of a star that has a similar mass to the Sun.

    Stage 1

    Initially, there is a massive cloud of dust and gas in space.

    Stage 2

    Stage 3

    Hydrogen nuclei join together to make helium nuclei

    Stage 4

    Stage 5

    The star eventually becomes unstable. An outer layer of dust and gas is ejected leaving behind a core. The core collapses due to gravity.

    (i) State and explain what happens in stage 2 of the diagram.

    Include specific references to the relationships between

    • the masses of the bodies involved and the forces acting between them

    • the separation of the bodies involved and the forces acting between them

    [4]

    (ii) State and explain what happens in stage 4 of the diagram.

    [4]

    How did you do?

    1b
    1 mark

    The timescale of stage 3 is in the order of

    • 105 to 106 years

    • 106 to 107 years

    • 109 to 1011 years

    • 1012 to 1015 years

    Choose your answer

    1c
    2 marks

    Explain why the star remains stable during stage 3 for the length of time you selected in part (b).

    How did you do?

    1d
    5 marks

    For stars with much larger masses than our Sun, stages 1 to 3 are almost exactly the same as lower mass stars. For the later stages, 4 and 5, the processes begin to differ. 

    Compare and contrast the final two stages in stars with much larger masses than our Sun and stars with similar masses to our Sun.

    How did you do?

    2a
    4 marks

    The table contains information on the mass of different stars.

    Star Name

    Star Mass / kg

    Earth's Sun

    1.989 × 1030

    Proxima Centauri

    2.446 × 1029

    VY Canis Majoris

    3.381 × 1031

    (i) Compare the masses of Proxima Centauri and VY Canis Majoris to the Sun.

    [1]

    (ii) Explain how these differences will affect the time these stars can remain stable.

    [3]

    How did you do?

    2b
    5 marks

    Describe what will happen to each of the stars after they leave the main sequence stage.

    How did you do?