A Level Physics 9702, topic 25.1
Standard candles: past paper questions
13 Cambridge A Level Physics 9702 questions on Standard candles (25.1) from 13 papers, 2023 to 2026. Open the paper or try a question free.
Practising builds a set from this topic, free with an account. One question opens straight away, with no account.
- Questions
- 13
- Papers
- 13
- Years
- 2023 to 2026
- Total marks
- 130
- Average per question
- 10 marks
- Largest question
- 13 marks
By type: Structured 13
What the syllabus asks
- understand the term luminosity as the total power of radiation emitted by a star
- recall and use the inverse square law for radiant flux intensity F in terms of the luminosity L of the source F = L /(4πd2 )
- understand that an object of known luminosity is called a standard candle
- understand the use of standard candles to determine distances to galaxies
How hard the questions are
- Recall0
- Apply3
- Analyse10
- Not banded0
Derived from the command word Cambridge prints in each question, banded by a fixed table beside the syllabus's own definitions. A question printing no command word is unbanded: unknown, not middling.
Command words
- determineApply12 questions
establish an answer using the information available
- stateRecall11 questions
express in clear terms
- calculateApply10 questions
work out from given facts, figures or information
- explainAnalyse7 questions
set out purposes or reasons/make the relationships between things evident/provide why and/or how and support with relevant evidence
- useApply6 questions
- sketchApply2 questions
make a simple freehand drawing showing the key features
- suggestAnalyse2 questions
apply knowledge and understanding to situations where there are a range of valid responses in order to make proposals
- compareAnalyse1 question
identify/comment on similarities and/or differences
- defineRecall1 question
give precise meaning
- estimateApply1 question
Where the questions come from
By year
- 20263
- 20251
- 20244
- 20235
By session
- May/June7
- Oct/Nov6
By paper
- Paper 413
Questions on this topic
Showing 7 of 13, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.
- Try this questionQuestion 10May/June 2026, paper 41Structured8 marks
State Wien’s displacement law.
- Try this questionQuestion 9Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured13 marks
State what is meant by the mass defect of a nucleus.
- Try this questionQuestion 10Oct/Nov 2024, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram
Explain how redshift leads to the idea that the Universe is expanding.
- Try this questionQuestion 10May/June 2026, paper 42Structured11 marks
Define the binding energy of a nucleus.
- Try this questionQuestion 10May/June 2024, paper 41Structured9 marks
State what is meant by the luminosity of a star.
- Try this questionQuestion 10May/June 2023, paper 41Structured9 marks
State Hubble's law.
- Try this questionQuestion 10May/June 2023, paper 43Structured9 marks
State Hubble’s law.