CAIE IGCSE Physics 6.1.2 The Solar System Topic Practice

CourseCourseConceptConceptDocumentDocument

Covered syllabus points

6.1.2.1—Contents: (a) the Sun (one star) (b)6.1.2.2—Four inner planets are small/rocky and6.1.2.3—Strength of the gravitational field6.1.2.4—Time it takes light to travel a6.1.2.5—Sun contains most of the mass of the6.1.2.6—Force that keeps an object in orbit6.1.2.7—Planets, minor planets and comets have6.1.2.8—Analyse and interpret planetary data6.1.2.9—Strength of the Sun’s gravitational6.1.2.10—An object in an elliptical orbit

Question 1

[Maximum number: 7]

Question (a)

(a)

The Solar System includes the Sun and planets.
State two other types of natural object that orbit the Sun.
1
2

[ 2 ]

Question (b)

(b)

State the shape of the orbits of the planets.

[ 1 ]

Question (c)

(c)

Fig. 10.1 shows the orbit of an object around the Sun. At point A, the object is closest to the Sun. At point B, the object is furthest away from the Sun.

Fig. 10.1

Fig. 10.1

State and explain the energy transfer as the object travels from point A to point B.
statement
explanation

[ 2 ]

Question (d)

(d)

Jupiter is 7.8×1011 m7.8 \times 10^{11} \mathrm{~m} from the Sun. The speed of light in a vacuum is 3.0×108 m/s3.0 \times 10^{8} \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}.

Calculate the time taken for light from the Sun to reach Jupiter.
time =

[ 2 ]

Question 2

[Maximum number: 9]

Fig. 9.1 shows the Sun as the central dot and the planets Saturn, Jupiter and Earth labelled S0\mathrm{S}_{0}, J0\mathrm{J}_{0} and E0\mathrm{E}_{0}. The planets orbit the Sun anticlockwise. From the Earth's orbit, the planets appear aligned.

Fig. 9.1 (not to scale)

Fig. 9.1 (not to scale)

Assume that Saturn takes 30 years to orbit the Sun and that Jupiter takes 12 years to orbit the Sun.

Question (a)

(a)

On Fig. 9.1, mark the positions of Saturn and Jupiter 5.0 years after the original positions shown.

Label these positions S1\mathrm{S}_{1} and J1\mathrm{J}_{1}. Show your working.

[ 3 ]

Question (b)

(b)

On Fig. 9.1, mark the positions of Saturn and Jupiter 20 years after the original positions shown in Fig. 9.1.

Label these positions S2\mathrm{S}_{2} and J2\mathrm{J}_{2}.

[ 1 ]

Question (c)

(c)

State what is observed from the Earth's orbit after 20 years.

[ 1 ]

Question (d)

(d)

Choose two words from the list to describe each planet.

Table for Question (d) — CAIE IGCSE Physics

Jupiter

Earth

[ 1 ]

Question (e)

(e)

The average density of Jupiter is much less than that of the Earth.

The gravitational field strength at the surface of Jupiter is greater than that at the surface of the Earth.

Explain how these differences in density and in gravitational field strength are consistent with your answers to (c)(i).
density
gravitational field strength

[ 3 ]

Question 3

[Maximum number: 3]

Table 9.1 gives information about three planets in the Solar System.

Table 9.1

Table 9.1

Question (a)

(a)

State the name of planet X .

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Describe the relationship shown in Table 9.1 between the mass of a planet and the gravitational field strength at its surface.

[ 1 ]

Question (c)

(c)

Explain why 'distance from Sun' in Table 9.1 is an average value.

[ 1 ]
All question bank results loaded