Stars: past paper questions

Where the questions come from

• Question 40May/June 2026, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  In approximately five billion years, our Sun will run out of hydrogen fuel in its core. Which row shows two later stages in its life cycle?

  Try this question
• Question 40Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  What is a possible result of a supernova explosion?

  Try this question
• Question 38Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  What happens when a protostar becomes a stable star?

  Try this question
• Question 39Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  The nearest star to the Sun is about four light-years away from the Earth.

  Try this question
• Question 40May/June 2026, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Proxima Centauri is one of the closest stars to the Earth and is located approximately $4.3\text{light-years}$ away. What is this distance in kilometres?

  Try this question
• Question 17Oct/Nov 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  Star X has a larger diameter than star Y but they both emit radiation with the same power. Which statement is correct?

  Try this question
• Question 9Oct/Nov 2024, paper 41Structured8 marks

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

  Try this question
• Question 40Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The table lists some information about some stars. Which star will eventually explode as a supernova?

  Try this question
• Question 40Oct/Nov 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  What can be formed directly following a supernova?

  Try this question
• Question 10Oct/Nov 2024, paper 43Structured6 marks

  Stars more massive than the Sun can eventually form black holes. Describe how a black hole can be formed from a more massive star.

  Try this question
• Question 9Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Structured9 marks

  Describe the structure of an atom of helium-4, ${}_2^4\text{He}$.

  Try this question
• Question 40May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What is a light-year?

  Try this question
• Question 10Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured10 marks

  The Milky Way is one of many billions of galaxies. Each galaxy contains many billions of stable stars. Stable stars transfer energy into space by emitting electromagnetic radiation from their surfaces.

  Try this question
• Question 39May/June 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Stars are powered by nuclear reactions that release energy. Which statement describes the nuclear reaction in stable stars?

  Try this question
• Question 38May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  The nearest star to the Sun is 4 light-years away.

  Try this question
• Question 10Oct/Nov 2023, paper 42Structured5 marks

  Complete the sentences about the life cycle of stars.

  Try this question
• Question 10May/June 2025, paper 42Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Table 10.1 shows data for planets A, B, C and D. State and explain which one of these planets is closest to the Sun.

  Try this question
• Question 39May/June 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about the life cycle of a star is correct?

  Try this question
• Question 39May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Which description of a galaxy is correct?

  Try this question
• Question 39May/June 2024, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  In which order are the objects listed formed during the life cycle of a star?

  Try this question
• Question 39May/June 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Which nuclear reaction powers a stable star?

  Try this question
• Question 11May/June 2024, paper 32Structured10 marks

  Table 11.1 shows some information about two of the planets in the Solar System. Venus is a similar size to the Earth. State why the gravitational field strength at the surface of the Earth is greater than the gravitational field strength at the surface of Venus.

  Try this question
• Question 40May/June 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Which stages in the life cycle of a star are listed in the order that they occur?

  Try this question
• Question 9May/June 2024, paper 41Structured9 marks

  The Sun is one of many billions of stars in the Milky Way. The Sun emits a very large quantity of energy as electromagnetic radiation. State the three regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in which the Sun emits the most energy.

  Try this question
• Question 39May/June 2023, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Which nuclear reaction produces the release of energy to power a star?

  Try this question
• Question 39May/June 2023, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row describes the power source for a stable star?

  Try this question
• Question 10May/June 2023, paper 42Structured9 marks

  State the equation that defines the average orbital speed $v$ of a planet.

  Try this question