The Universe: past paper questions

Where the questions come from

• Question 24May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  As the Universe expands, the wavelength of electromagnetic waves reaching the Earth from distant galaxies increases. This can cause waves that are emitted in one part of the electromagnetic spectrum to be detected in another part of that spectrum.

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• Question 40Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the name of the galaxy that contains the Sun?

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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 40Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which quantity does a light-year measure?

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• Question 40May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which description of a galaxy is correct?

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• Question 40Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Light received from distant galaxies is observed to have a longer wavelength than the light originally emitted. This is called redshift. Which conclusion do astronomers form about distant galaxies from this observation?

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• Question 40Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the approximate diameter of the Milky Way?

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• Question 40Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What provides evidence that the Universe is expanding?

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• Question 40May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diameter of the Milky Way is approximately ......1...... ......2...... .

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• Question 40Oct/Nov 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Light from distant galaxies is redshifted when it is observed from Earth. Which property of the light increases when light is redshifted?

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• Question 22Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The early Universe was filled with gamma radiation. Since then, the radiation has shifted to the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. How has this change affected the wavelength and speed of the radiation?

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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 40Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about the Milky Way galaxy is correct?

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• 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.

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• Question 11May/June 2026, paper 31Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Figure 11.1 represents the Solar System. Four of the planets are labelled. Give the names of the other four planets.

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  The galaxy Draco II is a distance of $6.6\times {10}^{20}\text{ m}$ from Earth. What is this distance in light-years?

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a radio signal from the Earth being reflected by Pluto and returning to the Earth. The distance between the Earth and Pluto is $0.00050\text{ light-years}$. What is the time taken for the radio signal to return to the Earth after being sent?

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2023, paper 43Structured7 marks

  State what is represented in space physics by the symbol $H_0$.

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• Question 9May/June 2026, paper 41Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A beam of white light is dispersed in a glass prism. Figure 9.1 shows the paths taken by green, indigo, red and yellow light. State which of the rays, 1, 2, 3 or 4, is: • the green ray ....................

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 10.1 shows the orbit of the Earth and the orbit of a comet around the Sun. State which orbit, A or B, is the orbit of the comet.

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• Question 40Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The Milky Way is a ......1...... made up of about a hundred ......2...... stars.

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• Question 40May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about the Milky Way is correct?

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured10 marks

  Fill in the gaps in the description of how an accretion model explains the formation of the Solar System. The planets nearest the Sun are small and ........................................ The planets furthest from the Sun are large and ........................................

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• Question 40Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  To determine the value of the Hubble constant, an astronomer measures the distance of a galaxy from the Earth as $2.5\times {10}^{21}\text{ km}$.

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• Question 40May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  An astronomer observes redshift in the light from a distant galaxy. Which statement about redshift is correct?

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• Question 9Oct/Nov 2025, paper 43Structured7 marks

  Cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) can be observed in every direction in space around us. State when CMBR was produced.

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• Question 40Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Which quantity is an estimate of the age of the Universe?

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• Question 40May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Light from distant stars is redshifted. What is redshift?

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• Question 39May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Electromagnetic radiation from distant galaxies is redshifted when observed from the Earth. This is evidence that supports the Big Bang Theory. Which statement is correct?

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• Question 40Oct/Nov 2024, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  The diameter of the Milky Way is approximately $100000$ light years. What is this distance in metres?

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