Topic 13 Practice Paper: Space physics — mark scheme (print)

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QuizQuipPractice Series

QQ/IGCSE-PHYS/T13

IGCSE · Cambridge IGCSE Physics (Extended (Core + Supplement))

Mark scheme

Space physics

Topic 13 Practice Paper · Maximum mark: 30

Notes for markers

Award one mark for each point marked [1], up to the marks shown for the part.
Accept answers worded differently that show the same understanding.
Units are required where the answer line shows one. ecf: allow an error carried forward.

Section A: Multiple-choice questions[10 marks]

Question	Answer and marking points	Marks
	Total for Question 1	1
	Total for Question 2	1
	Total for Question 3	1
	Total for Question 4	1
	Total for Question 5	1
	Total for Question 6	1
	Total for Question 7	1
	Total for Question 8	1
	Total for Question 9	1
	Total for Question 10	1

Section B: Structured questions[20 marks]

Question	Answer and marking points	Marks
11(a)	The Earth rotates about its axis once in about 24 hours, so each place is carried through sunlight and then shade in a repeating cycle. rotation on its axis [1] once per 24 h / through sunlight and shade [1]	2
11(b)	The Earth orbits the Sun about once every 365 days with its axis tilted, so each hemisphere leans towards the Sun for part of the year and away for another — the seasons repeat. orbit of about 365 days [1] tilted axis changes the angle of sunlight through the year [1]	2
11(c)	About one month; it produces the Moon’s cycle of phases (new moon to full moon and back). about a month [1] cycle of phases [1]	2
	Total for Question 11	6
12(a)	v = 2πr/T = 2π × 4.2 × 10⁷ ÷ 86 400 = 3054 ≈ 3100 m/s. substitution into 2πr/T [1] evaluation of 2πr [1] ≈ 3100 m/s [1]	3
12(b)	t = d/v = 4.2 × 10⁷ ÷ 3.0 × 10⁸ = 0.14 s. t = d/v used [1] 0.14 s [1]	2
12(c)	The signal travels at a finite speed, covering the distance up and down again — so the total journey takes about 0.28 s. finite speed over up-and-down path [1]	1
	Total for Question 12	6
13(a)	Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars; they are small and rocky. four names in order [1] rocky and small [1]	2
13(b)	Gravity pulled the cloud together; a rotating accretion disc formed, with the Sun at its centre. gravity [1] accretion disc / Sun at the centre [1]	2
13(c)	Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. between Mars and Jupiter [1]	1
	Total for Question 13	5
14(a)	Redshift is an increase in the observed wavelength of the galaxy’s light; it shows the galaxy is receding, and together with other galaxies it provides evidence that the Universe is expanding, supporting the Big Bang Theory. wavelength increase / receding [1] expanding Universe / Big Bang evidence [1]	2
14(b)	H₀ = v/d = 5.5 × 10⁵ ÷ 2.5 × 10²³ = 2.2 × 10⁻¹⁸ per second. [1]	1
	Total for Question 14	3

— End of mark scheme —