The Earth and the Solar System — Paper 2 · IGCSE Physics 0625

9 Which energy resource has the Sun as its only source of energy? A geothermal B nuclear C oil D tidal

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/23 Oct/Nov 2021

37 Which data is needed to calculate the average orbital speed of a satellite around a planet? the distance of the the radius the period the time for the satellite from the of the planet of rotation of satellite to orbit centre of the planet P the planet the planet once A v v Jv x B v x x v Cc x Jv Jv x D v Jv x v key / = needed X = not needed

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/22 Feb/March 2023

38 Approximately how long does it take for the Moon to make one complete orbit of the Earth? A 24 hours B 1 month C 1 season D 1 year

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/22 Feb/March 2023

37 Which planet in our Solar System is nearest to the Sun and what is the nature of the planet? planet nature A Mercury rocky B Mercury gaseous C Venus rocky D Venus gaseous

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/21 May/June 2023

38 A space station orbits the Earth at a distance of 7000 km from the Earth’s centre. It makes 15 orbits in every 24-hour period. What is the speed of the space station in its orbit? A 2900 km / h B 4400 km / h C 8800 km / h D 27 000 km / h

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/21 May/June 2023

37 Which statement about the Solar System is correct? A All the planets are rocky. B Only the Earth has a moon. C Pluto is a dwarf planet. D There are many stars in the Solar System.

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/22 May/June 2023

38 Comets are bodies which orbit the Sun in the Solar System. What is the shape of the orbit and how is the Sun positioned within the orbit? shape of orbit position of the Sun A circular centre of orbit B circular not at centre of orbit C elliptical centre of orbit D elliptical not at centre of orbit

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/22 May/June 2023

37 Which row about the orbits of the Earth and the Moon is correct? approximate time approximate time for the Earth for the Moon to orbit the Sun to orbit the Earth A 1 day 30 days B 30 days 1 day C 365 days 1 day D 365 days 30 days

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/23 May/June 2023

38 Which statement about the orbits of comets is correct? A Comets have elliptical orbits and the Sun is at the centre of the orbit. B Comets have elliptical orbits and the Sun is not at the centre of the orbit. C Comets have circular orbits and the Sun is at the centre of the orbit. D Comets have circular orbits and the Sun is not at the centre of the orbit.

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/23 May/June 2023

38 It is summer in the northern hemisphere of the Earth in June. Which statement explains why? A The Earth is closer to the Sun in June. B The Earth spins on its axis in the opposite direction to that in which it rotates around the Sun. C The Moon is full in June. D The north pole of the axis of the Earth’s rotation is tilted towards the Sun in June.

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/21 Oct/Nov 2023

38 The time taken for the Earth to orbit the Sun is approximately 365 days. The average radius of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun is 1.5  108 km. What is the average orbital speed of the Earth? A 30 m / s B 4.8  103 m / s C 3.0  104 m / s D 4.1  1010 m / s

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/22 Oct/Nov 2023

38 The diagram shows a star S and the initial arrangement of three planets, X, Y and Z. Z NOT TO Y SCALE X clockwise S Each planet orbits clockwise in a circle about S. The time for one orbit of Y is three times the time taken for one orbit of X. The time for one orbit of Z is twice the time taken for one orbit of Y. Starting from the initial arrangement, which diagram shows the positions of the planets after X has made one complete orbit? A B C D Z Z X X X X S Y S Y Y S Y S Z Z

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/23 Oct/Nov 2023

39 The nearest star to the Sun is about four light-years away from the Earth. A student makes three statements about the star. 1 Light from the star takes about four years to reach the Earth. 2 Light from the Sun takes about four years to travel to the star and back to the Earth. 3 The star is outside our galaxy. Which statements are correct? A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 3 only C 1 only D 2 and 3 only

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/23 Oct/Nov 2023

40 A planet orbits the Sun with orbital period T. The average radius of the orbit is r. What is the average orbital speed of the planet? 2 π r T π r A 2πrT B C D T 2 π r 2 T

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/23 Oct/Nov 2023

36 Which list correctly shows the planets in decreasing order of distance from the Sun? A Jupiter  Saturn  Neptune  Uranus B Jupiter  Saturn  Uranus  Neptune C Neptune  Uranus  Saturn  Jupiter D Uranus  Neptune  Saturn  Jupiter

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/22 Feb/March 2024

38 The diagram shows a comet moving in an elliptical orbit around the Sun. At which position is the comet moving with the greatest speed? C comet A Sun D B

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/22 Feb/March 2024

40 The table gives data about four planets in our Solar System. Uranus Earth planet X planet Y mean surface –195 15 –65 –140 temperature / C What are planets X and Y? planet X planet Y A Mars Saturn B Mars Neptune C Mercury Saturn D Mercury Neptune

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/22 Feb/March 2024

37 A planet in the Solar System is at the point in its orbit where it is closest to the Sun. Which row is correct? energy in gravitational orbital speed potential store A at its maximum at its maximum B at its maximum at its minimum C at its minimum at its maximum D at its minimum at its minimum

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/21 May/June 2024

7 The table gives four energy resources and states whether the main source of energy for the resource is the Sun. Which row is correct? main source of energy resource energy is the Sun A geothermal yes B oil no C water held behind a dam yes D wind no

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/22 May/June 2024

38 The Earth orbits the Sun once in approximately 365 days. The average radius of the orbit is 1.5  1011 m. What is the average orbital speed of the Earth? A 3.0  104 m / s B 1.1  108 m / s C 2.6  109 m / s D 1.3  1015 m / s

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/22 May/June 2024

38 The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is 1.5  1011 m. What is the orbital speed of the Earth? A 4.0  105 km / day B 1.3  106 km / day C 2.6  106 km / day D 1.9  1014 km / day

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/23 May/June 2024

38 Which type of object rotates around the Sun with an elliptical orbit? A planet B galaxy C red giant D moon

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/21 Oct/Nov 2024

39 The table gives information about some of the planets in our Solar System. mass compared average density gravitatio nal field strength at surface planet with the Earth g cm / 3 N / kg Earth 1.0 5.5 9.8 Jupiter 320 1.3 25 Mercury 0.060 5.4 3.8 Uranus 15 1.3 10 Which statement about these planets is correct? A As the mass compared with the Earth increases, the average density increases. B As the mass compared with the Earth increases, the gravitational field strength increases. C As the average density increases, the gravitational field strength decreases. D The average density is directly proportional to the gravitational field strength.

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/22 Oct/Nov 2024

38 The table gives the orbital durations of planets in the Solar System. planet Mercury Venus Earth Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune orbital duration 88 225 365 4330 10 700 30 600 59 800 / days What is the orbital duration of Mars? A 295 days B 690 days C 7100 days D 20 600 days

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/23 Oct/Nov 2024

10 The Sun is not the primary source of energy for which resource? A oil B tidal C wind D wave

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/22 Feb/March 2025

39 The graph shows how the strength of the Earth’s gravitational field varies as the distance from the Earth’s surface increases. strength of the Earth’s gravitational field 0 0 distance from the surface of the Earth Which row describes the effect that this has on the mass and on the weight of an object as it moves further away from the Earth’s surface? mass of object weight of object A decreases decreases B decreases unchanged C unchanged decreases D unchanged unchanged

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/22 Feb/March 2025

38 A student defines three periods of time: ● the time TS taken for the Earth to orbit the Sun ● the time TR taken for the Earth to rotate once on its axis ● the time TM taken for the Moon to orbit the Earth. Which row shows the shortest period of time and the longest period of time? shortest longest period of time period of time A TS TR B TR TS C TR TM D TM TS

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/21 May/June 2025

38 Which statement is correct? A The Earth orbits the Sun once in approximately 24 hours. B The Earth orbits the Moon once in approximately 1 week. C The Moon orbits the Earth once in approximately 1 month. D The Sun orbits the Earth once in approximately 365 days.

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/22 May/June 2025

38 In which direction does the Sun appear to move every day, when viewed from the Earth? A east to west B north to south C south to north D west to east

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/23 May/June 2025

40 The orbit of Mercury is closer to the Sun than the orbit of the Earth is to the Sun. How do the values of the gravitational field strength of the Sun near Mercury and the orbital speed of Mercury compare to those values for the Earth? gravitational field orbital speed strength of the Sun of Mercury near Mercury A greater faster B greater slower C smaller faster D smaller slower

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/23 May/June 2025

38 A satellite is in orbit around the Earth. The orbit has radius r and period T. Which expression gives the orbital speed of the satellite? r T 2  r 2  T A B C D 2  T 2  r T r

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/21 Oct/Nov 2025

39 Comets move round the Sun. Which statement describes the orbit of a comet? A The orbit is circular with the Sun at the centre of the circle. B The orbit is circular with the Sun not at the centre of the circle. C The orbit is elliptical with the Sun at the centre of the ellipse. D The orbit is elliptical with the Sun not at the centre of the ellipse.

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/21 Oct/Nov 2025

38 A space probe measures the gravitational field strength at four different distances from a planet. The point furthest from the planet is measured first and the point nearest the planet is measured last. In which order were the measurements taken? A 6.3 N / kg, 10 N / kg, 14 N / kg, 20 N / kg B 10 N / kg, 14 N / kg, 6.3 N / kg, 20 N / kg C 20 N / kg, 14 N / kg, 6.3 N / kg, 10 N / kg D 20 N / kg, 14 N / kg, 10 N / kg, 6.3 N / kg

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/22 Oct/Nov 2025

38 An artificial satellite orbits planet X at a distance r = 7.0  106 m from the centre of planet X. The average orbital speed v of the satellite is 3500 m / s. What is the orbital period? A 21 minutes B 52 minutes C 1 hour and 45 minutes D 3 hours and 29 minutes

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/23 Oct/Nov 2025