CAIE IGCSE Physics Stars and Stellar Evolution Questions

Practise defining and converting light-years and trace stellar evolution from gas clouds and protostars to stable stars and mass-dependent final stages.

Exam points

define a light-year as a distance and convert between light-years, metres and kilometres
explain a protostar forming by gravitational collapse and becoming stable when opposing forces balance
sequence low- and high-mass star life cycles through red giants or supergiants to their final remnants

Covered syllabus points

6.2.2.1—(a) galaxies contain many billions of 6.2.2.2—One light-year is equal to 9.5 × 1015 6.2.2.3—Star life cycle: (a) forms from

[Maximum number: 3]

The Milky Way is the galaxy in which the Solar System is located.

(a)

State what a galaxy is.

[ 1 ]

(b)

The Milky Way has a diameter that is approximately equal to 100000 light-years.

Determine this distance in kilometres (km).

[ 2 ]

$9.5 \times 10^{17}(\mathrm{~km})$

A2

(1 light-year =) $9.5 \times 10^{15}(\mathrm{~m})$ OR (1 light-year =) $3 \times 10^{8} \times 365 \times 24 \times 3600$

C1

[Maximum number: 2]

Describe what happens to a star when most of the fuel in its centre has been converted to helium.

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Covered syllabus points

6.2.2 Stars question 1

Question (a)

Question (b)

6.2.2 Stars question 2