The Sun as a star: past paper questions

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• 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?

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about the Sun is correct?

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row describes the Sun and the Milky Way?

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  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?

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about the Sun is not correct?

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  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?

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• Question 11May/June 2026, paper 43Structured7 marks

  The Sun is an example of a stable star. Describe the process that releases energy in the Sun.

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  In which given region of the electromagnetic spectrum does the Sun radiate the least of its energy?

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• Question 40Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  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?

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The table lists data about four different stars. Which star is the Sun?

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row shows the process by which energy in the Sun is released, the process by which it is transferred to the Earth and a way in which it is stored once it reaches the Earth?

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2025, paper 33Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  Each box in the left column shows a description of a unit of time. Each box in the right column shows the name of a unit of time.

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2024, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  Which reaction produces the energy that powers the Sun?

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

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

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• Question 39May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What are the three main types of radiation emitted by the Sun?

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• Question 40Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  How does the Sun produce its energy?

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• Question 40May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  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. Region P is visible light and region Q is ultraviolet.

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• Question 40May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The Sun mostly consists of which gases?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2023, paper 31Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 11.1 represents the Sun and part of the Solar System. Complete the labels on Fig. 11.1 by writing on the dotted lines.

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• Question 39May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  In which regions of the electromagnetic spectrum does the Sun radiate most of its energy?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2023, paper 33Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 11.1 represents the Earth in orbit around the Sun. State the name of the force that keeps the Earth in orbit around the Sun.

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• 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?

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• Question 38May/June 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the main process that powers the Sun?

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• Question 39May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The Sun consists mostly of two elements. What are these two elements?

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• Question 11May/June 2025, paper 32Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 11.1 represents the Solar System. The Sun and five of the eight planets are labelled. Complete the three missing labels on Fig. 11.1 by writing the name of each planet on its dotted line.

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• 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.

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• Question 39May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The graph shows the energy radiated by the Sun at different wavelengths.

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• Question 11May/June 2025, paper 33Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 11.1 represents the Solar System. The Sun and five of the eight planets are labelled. Fig. 11.1 (not to scale) Complete the three missing labels on Fig. 11.1 by writing the name of each planet on its dotted line.

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

  Which nuclear reaction powers a stable star?

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

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

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