Stars and the Universe — Paper 1 · IGCSE Physics 0625

39 A radiation detector records a low reading even when no radioactive source is close. This is due to background radiation. What does not contribute to this background radiation? A rocks on Earth B cosmic rays from the Sun C satellite TV signals D waste from nuclear power stations

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/11 Oct/Nov 2020

39 The Sun has a mass of 2.0 × 1030 kg. Which element accounts for most of this mass? A carbon B hydrogen C oxygen D uranium

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/12 Feb/March 2023

40 The nearest star to the Sun is Proxima Centauri at a distance of 4.2 light years. Which statements are correct? 1 Telescope images of Proxima Centauri show it as it was 4.2 years ago. 2 If a spacecraft near Proxima Centauri sent a radio message to the Earth, it would take 4.2 years to arrive. 3 Proxima Centauri is outside the Milky Way galaxy. A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/12 Feb/March 2023

39 The Sun consists mostly of two elements. What are these two elements? A helium and nitrogen B hydrogen and helium C hydrogen and oxygen D oxygen and nitrogen

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/11 May/June 2023

40 Which statement about the Milky Way is correct? A It is a galaxy. B It is a group of galaxies. C It is a group of stars outside our own galaxy. D It is a group of stars which are part of our galaxy.

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/11 May/June 2023

39 The graph shows the energy radiated by the Sun at different wavelengths. Most of the energy is radiated in just three parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, labelled P, Q and R. energy radiated 0 0 P Q R wavelength Which parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are P and R? P R A gamma ray radio B infrared ultraviolet C radio gamma ray D ultraviolet infrared

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/12 May/June 2023

40 An astronomer observes redshift in the light from a distant galaxy. Which statement about redshift is correct? A It is the decrease in the observed wavelength of red light emitted from receding galaxies. B It is evidence that the Universe is contracting and supports the Big Bang Theory. C It is evidence that the Universe is expanding and supports the Big Bang Theory. D Redshift is when light from receding galaxies appears blue.

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/12 May/June 2023

39 Which description of a galaxy is correct? A a collection of billions of stars B a collection of gaseous planets orbiting a star C a collection of rocky planets orbiting a star D all of the stars that exist

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/13 May/June 2023

40 Light from distant stars is redshifted. What is redshift? A a decrease in observed wavelength caused by a star moving away from the Earth B a decrease in observed wavelength caused by a star moving towards the Earth C an increase in observed wavelength caused by a star moving away from the Earth D an increase in observed wavelength caused by a star moving towards the Earth

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/13 May/June 2023

39 Which statement about the Sun is correct? A The Sun is a dwarf star consisting mostly of hydrogen and oxygen. B The Sun is a giant star consisting mostly of helium and carbon dioxide. C The Sun is a medium-sized star consisting mostly of hydrogen and helium. D The Sun is a medium-sized star consisting mostly of nitrogen and oxygen.

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/11 Oct/Nov 2023

40 Which quantity does a light-year measure? A an angle B a distance C a speed D a time

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/11 Oct/Nov 2023

39 The Sun transfers energy to the Earth through electromagnetic radiation. What are two of the parts of the electromagnetic spectrum to which most of the energy belongs? A gamma rays and X-rays B infrared radiation and visible light C microwaves and visible light D radio waves and microwaves

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/12 Oct/Nov 2023

40 What provides evidence that the Universe is expanding? A Stars in galaxies outside the Milky Way are all red. B The Andromeda galaxy is moving toward the Milky Way. C Light from distant galaxies is shifted to longer wavelengths. D The Universe is 14 billion years old.

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/12 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 0625/13 Oct/Nov 2023

40 The table shows some elements and some regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Which row shows one of the most common elements in the Sun and one of the regions in which the Sun radiates most of its energy? element region A iron gamma B iron infrared C hydrogen gamma D hydrogen infrared

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/13 Oct/Nov 2023

38 Which row shows the most common elements in the Sun and the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in which most of the Sun’s energy is radiated? elements regions A carbon and oxygen gamma and radio waves B carbon and oxygen infrared and visible C hydrogen and helium gamma and radio waves D hydrogen and helium infrared and visible

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/12 Feb/March 2024

39 What is the meaning of a light-year? A the distance light travels in space in one year B the number of years it takes light to travel from the Sun to the Earth C the speed that light travels in space D the time it takes light to travel from the Sun to the nearest star

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/12 Feb/March 2024

40 What is the approximate diameter of the Milky Way? A 100 light-years B 1000 light-years C 10 000 light-years D 100 000 light-years

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/12 Feb/March 2024

39 What are the three main types of radiation emitted by the Sun? A infrared, radio waves and ultraviolet B infrared, visible light and ultraviolet C microwaves, visible light and X-rays D radio waves, X-rays and ultraviolet

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/11 May/June 2024

40 What is a light-year? A the time for light to travel 1 km in space B the time for light to travel from the Sun to the Earth C the distance travelled in space by light in one year D the distance travelled by light from the Sun to the Earth

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/11 May/June 2024

38 The nearest star to the Sun is 4 light-years away. A spaceship travels at 0.1% of the speed of light. What is the total time taken for a journey from the Sun to the star and back again? A 400 years B 800 years C 4000 years D 8000 years

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/13 May/June 2024

39 In which regions of the electromagnetic spectrum does the Sun radiate most of its energy? A microwave to infrared B ultraviolet to X-ray C infrared to ultraviolet D radio to infrared

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/13 May/June 2024

40 What is the approximate diameter of the Milky Way? A 100 000 kilometres B 1 000 000 kilometres C 100 000 light-years D 1 000 000 light-years

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/13 May/June 2024

39 Which row describes the Sun and the Milky Way? the Sun the Milky Way A a galaxy a galaxy B a galaxy a star C a star a galaxy D a star a star

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/11 Oct/Nov 2024

40 What is the approximate diameter of the Milky Way? A 100 light-years B 1000 light-years C 10 000 light-years D 100 000 light-years

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/11 Oct/Nov 2024

22 The early Universe was filled with gamma radiation. Since then, the radiation has shifted to the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. How has this change affected the wavelength and speed of the radiation? wavelength speed A decreased decreased B decreased stayed the same C increased decreased D increased stayed the same

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/12 Oct/Nov 2024

39 Which statement about the Sun is not correct? A The Sun is one of the biggest stars. B The Sun emits ultraviolet radiation. C The Sun emits infrared radiation. D Helium is present in the Sun.

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/12 Oct/Nov 2024

40 Which statement about the Milky Way galaxy is correct? A It contains stars that are about the same distance from the Earth as the Sun. B It is a collection of about 1000 stars that can be seen from the Earth. C It is the galaxy that contains the Sun and the Earth. D Its diameter is about 1 light-year.

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/12 Oct/Nov 2024

40 The Milky Way is a … 1 … made up of about a hundred … 2 … stars. Which words correctly complete gaps 1 and 2? 1 2 A galaxy billion B universe billion C galaxy thousand D universe thousand

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/13 Oct/Nov 2024

39 Electromagnetic radiation from distant galaxies is redshifted when observed from the Earth. This is evidence that supports the Big Bang Theory. Which statement is correct? A Light from galaxies that are moving towards the Earth is redshifted. B Redshift is an increase in the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation. C The Big Bang Theory says that the Solar System is expanding out into the Universe. D The Big Bang Theory says that, billions of years ago, the Universe expanded to its current size in a few seconds.

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/11 May/June 2025

40 Which statement about the Milky Way is correct? A It is a galaxy made up of billions of stars. B It is a group of galaxies in our Solar System. C It is all the stars that we can see in the night sky. D It is the path taken by a comet when it gets close to the Sun.

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/11 May/June 2025

40 The Sun radiates most of its energy in three regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The diagram shows the proportion of the total energy radiated in each of these regions. Q R P Region P is visible light and region Q is ultraviolet. What is region R? A infrared B microwaves C radio waves D X-rays

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/12 May/June 2025

40 The Sun radiates most of its energy in three regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The diagram shows the proportion of the total energy radiated in each of these regions. Q R P Region P is visible light and region Q is ultraviolet. What is region R? A infrared B microwaves C radio waves D X-rays

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0625/13 May/June 2025

39 The Sun is a star that radiates energy towards the Earth. Which regions of the electromagnetic spectrum make up most of the Sun’s radiation received on the Earth? A gamma, X-ray and ultraviolet B X-ray, ultraviolet and visible C ultraviolet, visible and infrared D visible, infrared and microwaves

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0625/12 Oct/Nov 2025

40 Light received from distant galaxies is observed to have a longer wavelength than the light originally emitted. This is called redshift. Which conclusion do astronomers form about distant galaxies from this observation? A They are all moving around each other. B They are all moving away from each other. C They are all moving in circular orbits. D They are all moving towards each other.

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/12 Oct/Nov 2025

39 In which given region of the electromagnetic spectrum does the Sun radiate the least of its energy? A infrared B microwave C ultraviolet D visible

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0625/13 Oct/Nov 2025

40 Light from distant galaxies is redshifted when it is observed from Earth. Which property of the light increases when light is redshifted? A amplitude B frequency C speed D wavelength

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0625/13 Oct/Nov 2025