Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information

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Centre Number Candidate Number

Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1)

Wednesday 12 June 2024
Morning (Time: 1 hour 45 minutes) Paper
reference 1AS0/01
Astronomy  

PAPER 1: Naked-eye Astronomy

You must have: Total Marks

Formulae and Data Sheet (enclosed)
Calculator, ruler

Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
•• Answer all questions.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
•• Calculators may be used.
Any diagrams may NOT be accurately drawn, unless otherwise indicated.
• You must show all your working out with your answer clearly identified at the
end of your solution.

Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 100.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.

Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Try to answer every question.
• Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over

P75500A
©2024 Pearson Education Ltd.
F:1/1/1/1/1
*P75500A0132*
 Formulae and Data Sheet
Formulae

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Equation of Time = Apparent Solar Time (AST) – Mean Solar Time (MST)

T2
Kepler’s 3rd law: = a constant
r3

fo
Magnification of telescope: magnification =
fe

Distance modulus formula: M  m  5  5log d

  0 v
Redshift formula: 
0 c

Hubble’s law: v = H 0d

Data

Mass of Earth 6.0 × 1024 kg

Mean diameter of Earth 13 000 km

Mean diameter of Moon 3500 km

Mean diameter of Sun 1.4 × 106 km

One Astronomical Unit (AU) 1.5 × 108 km

Mean Earth to Moon distance 380 000 km

One light year (l.y.) 9.5 × 1012 km

One parsec (pc) 3.1 × 1013 km = 3.26 l.y.

Sidereal day of Earth 23 h 56 min

Synodic day of Earth 24 h 00 min

Temperature of solar photosphere 5800 K

Hubble Constant 68 km/s/Mpc

Speed of light in vacuum 3.0 × 108 m/s

v1
2
1 DD02774A
1/1
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Sidereal Mean

2
Type of Mean distance Diameter Mass/ Ring
Name period/Earth temperature Moons


body from Sun/AU /1000 km Earth mass systems
year /°C

Mercury planet 0.38 0.24 170 4.9 0.055 no none

1/1
Venus planet 0.72 0.62 470 12.1 0.82 no none

DD02774A
Earth planet 1.0 1.0 15 12.8 1.00 no 1: the Moon

2 small moons: Deimos and

Mars planet 1.5 1.9 −50 6.9 0.11 no
Phobos
dwarf
Ceres 2.8 4.6 −105 0.95 1.5 × 10−4 no none
planet
4 major moons: Ganymede,
Jupiter planet 5.2 11.9 −150 143 318 yes Callisto, Europa, Io
>60 others

©2021 Pearson Education Ltd.

5 major moons: including
Saturn planet 9.5 29.5 −180 121 95 yes Titan, Iapetus
>55 others
5 major moons: including
Uranus planet 19.1 84.0 −210 51 15 yes Titania, Oberon
>20 others

*P75500A0332*
1 major moon: Triton
Neptune planet 30.0 165 −220 50 17 yes
>12 others
dwarf 1 major moon: Charon
Pluto 39.5 248 −230 2.4 2.2 × 10−3 no
planet >4 other moons
dwarf
Haumea 43.1 283 −241 1.4 6.7 × 10−4 no 2
planet
dwarf
Eris 67.8 557 −230 2.3 2.8 × 10−3 no at least 1
planet

3
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v1
 Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
Some questions must be answered with a cross in a box . If you change your mind about an

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answer, put a line through the box and then mark your new answer with a cross .
1 (a) Figure 1 shows an image of the full Moon.
Three features have been labelled X, Y and Z.

X Z

Figure 1
(i) Feature X is a:
(1)
A crater

B mare

C terra

D volcano
(ii) Feature Y is a:
(1)
A crater

B mare

C terra

D volcano

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 (iii) Feature Z is a:
(1)
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A crater

B mare

C terra

D volcano
(b) A student writes a description of how some astronomical objects appear when
viewed with the naked eye.
Identify each object from its description.
(i) A moving, green curtain of light.
(1)
A aurora

B galaxy

C meteor
D supernova
(ii) A bright star that suddenly appeared in the night sky and then faded after
several weeks.
(1)
A aurora

B galaxy
C meteor

D supernova
(iii) A bright streak of light moving across the sky in one second.
(1)
A aurora

B galaxy

C meteor

D supernova
(Total for Question 1 = 6 marks)

5
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2 (a) Which term is used to describe:
(i) the Moon passing in front of Venus and blocking its light?

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(1)
A apogee

B elongation

C occultation

D transit
(ii) Venus passing in front of the Sun’s disc?
(1)
A apogee

B elongation

C occultation

D transit
(iii) the angle between Venus and the Sun, measured from the Earth?
(1)
A apogee

B elongation

C occultation

D transit

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 (b) Different naked-eye techniques can be used to help observe a faint star.
(i) In which naked-eye technique does the observer look at the faint star with
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their peripheral vision?

(1)
A averted vision

B dark adaptation

C indirect sight

D night vision
(ii) In which naked-eye technique does the observer wait 20 minutes in dark
conditions and avoid looking at any bright light?
(1)
A averted vision

B dark adaptation

C indirect sight
D night vision
(iii) State one reason why a pinhole camera would not be suitable for observing a
faint star.
(1)

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(Total for Question 2 = 6 marks)

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3 (a) The Moon is an oblate spheroid and has a mean diameter of 3 475 km.
What is the Moon’s polar diameter?

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(1)
A 3 475 km

B 6 950 km

C greater than 3 475 km

D less than 3 475 km

(b) Which features on the Moon are caused by:
(i) impacts from space rocks?
(1)
A canyons

B craters

C maria
D mountains
(ii) large plains of magma that have turned solid?
(1)
A canyons

B craters

C maria
D mountains

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 (c) The Moon takes 27.3 days to orbit once around the Earth.
(i) What is this time period called?
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(1)
A calendar month

B sidereal month

C solar month

D zodiacal month
(ii) Calculate the angle through which the Moon appears to move in one hour
against the background stars.
(1)

Angle = ............................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . °
(iii) State two reasons why it is difficult to observe the movement of the Moon
against the background stars with the naked eye.
(2)

1 ............................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 ............................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(Total for Question 3 = 7 marks)

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4 (a) The geocentric model is an early model of the universe.
Geocentric means:

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(1)
A all planets orbit the Earth

B all planets orbit the Sun

C the Earth is flat

D the Sun lies on the Celestial Equator

(b) Figure 2 shows part of a star chart.
Each month, the position of Mars was marked on the chart.
These positions show the path that Mars appeared to take in a six-month period
against the background stars.
The apparent path of Mars is shown by a solid curve in Figure 2.

8h 7h 6h 5h

Apparent path
of Mars

30°

12th May 12th April

12th June
12th Sept
20°
12th Oct
12th Aug
12th July

10°

Figure 2
(i) State the Right Ascension and Declination of Mars on 12th May.
Use information from Figure 2.
(2)
Right Ascension = ............................... h ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . min

Declination = ............................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . °

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*P75500A01032* 
 (ii) Name the dashed line on the star chart in Figure 2.
(1)
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................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(iii) During these observations Mars appeared to move in a retrograde direction

against the background stars.
State the number of months that Mars appeared to move in a retrograde
direction against the background stars.
Use information from Figure 2.
(1)

Number of months = ......................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) The astronomer Ptolemy proposed a geocentric model with the addition of
epicycles.
Explain how these epicycles helped to account for the apparent retrograde
motion of Mars.
Use a clearly labelled diagram in your answer.
(3)

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(Total for Question 4 = 8 marks)

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5 (a) Table 1 shows part of a tide chart for a port in Scotland.
The levels of high and low tides are shown from 19th October to 31st October.

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Level of water (m)
Date
First First Second Second
high tide low tide high tide low tide

19 Oct 5.3 1.9 5.2 2.0

21 Oct 4.9 2.3 4.9 2.4

23 Oct 4.6 2.5 4.7 2.5

25 Oct 4.9 2.4 5.0 2.3

27 Oct 5.3 2.0 5.4 1.9

29 Oct 5.6 1.8 5.6 1.7

31 Oct 5.5 1.8 5.3 2.0

Table 1
(i) Explain why there are two high tides each day.
You may include a clearly labelled diagram in your answer.
(2)

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................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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*P75500A01232* 
 (ii) Analyse the data in Table 1 in order to determine the date when the Moon’s
phase was either first or last quarter.
(2)
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................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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 (b) The Greek astronomer Aristarchus used a total lunar eclipse to estimate the
diameter of the Moon.

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Figure 3 shows the Moon passing through the Earth’s shadow during a total lunar
eclipse.
The Moon is shown at each of the four umbral contacts.
The time at which the Moon reaches each umbral contact is labelled.

Earth’s penumbral shadow

Earth’s umbral shadow

00:43
01:23

Position of the 03:00

Moon at each 03:40
umbral contact

Figure 3
Calculate an approximate value for the diameter of the Moon.
Use information from Figure 3 and the Formulae and Data Sheet.
Give your answer in km.
(3)

Diameter of the Moon = .................................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . km

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*P75500A01432* 
 (c) State two reasons why a total lunar eclipse appears to take longer than a total
solar eclipse, when viewed from the Earth.
(2)
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1 ............................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 ............................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(Total for Question 5 = 9 marks)

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6 The following is an extract from an article about astronomy.
“It is thanks to the astronomical observations made by Tycho Brahe, that Johannes Kepler

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was able to discover the laws of planetary motion.”
(a) Explain why Tycho Brahe’s observations were so important in the development of
Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion.
(2)

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................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

One of Kepler’s laws of planetary motion can be stated as:

“The line between the Sun and a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times.”
(b) Explain how this statement can be used to describe how the orbital speed of a
planet changes during its elliptical orbit.
Use a clearly labelled diagram in your answer.
(3)

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16
*P75500A01632* 
 (c) Kepler’s third law of planetary motion can be written as:

T2
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= constant
r3

Table 2 shows the mean orbital radius and orbital period for some of the moons
of Jupiter.

Moon of Mean orbital radius Orbital period

Jupiter (million km) (days)

Io 0.422 1.76

Europa 0.670 3.52

Ganymede 1.075

Table 2
Calculate the orbital period of Ganymede.
Give your answer in days.
(3)

Orbital period = ....................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . days

(d) Moon X orbits Saturn with a mean orbital radius of 0.422 million km.
Explain why Moon X does not have an orbital period of 1.76 days.
(2)

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(Total for Question 6 = 10 marks)

17
 *P75500A01732* Turn over
7 (a) Figure 4 shows a sketch of the asterism known as ‘The Plough’.

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 

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Figure 4
(i) Draw on Figure 4 the position of the star Polaris.
Use the label P.
(1)
(ii) Draw on Figure 4 the position of the star Arcturus.
Use the label A.
(1)
(iii) State what is meant by the term ‘asterism’.
(1)

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18
*P75500A01832* 
 (b) A GCSE Astronomy student in London wants to measure the seeing conditions
when observing stars.
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She decides to observe the star Polaris and counts the number of times the star
appears to ‘twinkle’ in a period of time.
She repeats this on four different nights in March.
Table 3 shows the student’s results.

Date Duration of observation Number of times Polaris

(seconds) was observed to twinkle

10th March 25 12

11th March 15 8

12th March 30 20

13th March 20 17

Table 3
The student concludes that the seeing conditions were worst on the night of
12th March.
(i) Analyse Table 3 in order to comment on the accuracy of her conclusion.
(2)

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(ii) Give two reasons why Polaris was a suitable star for her investigation.
(2)

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2 ............................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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19
 *P75500A01932* Turn over
 (c) Another GCSE Astronomy student wants to investigate the effect of skyglow (light
pollution) on the number of stars that are visible in the night sky.

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The student designed the following investigation:
1. point a long cardboard tube at the zenith
2. look through the tube and count the number of visible stars
3. lower the tube by approximately 10 degrees and repeat the observation
4. continue lowering the tube and counting the number of visible stars until
the tube is pointing at the horizon
5. record the data and plot a graph of the tube’s angle from the zenith (x-axis)
against the number of observed stars (y-axis).
Evaluate the suitability of this method for determining the effect of skyglow on
the number of stars visible in the night sky.
(6)

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20
*P75500A02032* 
 ................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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(Total for Question 7 = 13 marks)

21
 *P75500A02132* Turn over
8 A teacher wants to use a scale model of the Earth, Moon and Sun to demonstrate the
scale of the Solar System.

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(a) State why a scale model is needed to show the distances between the Earth,
Moon and Sun.
(1)

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(b) The teacher decides that the distance between the Earth and the Moon should
be 10.0 cm in this scale model.
(i) Calculate the distance between the Earth and the Sun for this scale model.
Give your answer in m.
Give your answer to three significant figures.
Use information from the Formulae and Data Sheet.
(3)

Earth-Sun distance in the scale model = .............................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m

22
*P75500A02232* 
 (ii) Proxima Centauri is the nearest star system to the Sun.
It is 4.2 light years from the Sun.
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Explain why the teacher’s scale model would not be suitable for
demonstrating the distance to Proxima Centauri.
Support your answer with a relevant calculation.
Assume 1 light year (l.y.) = 9.5×1012 km.
(2)

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(c) The core of the Earth is approximately 54% of the Earth’s diameter.
Determine which planet has approximately the same diameter as the Earth’s core.
Use information from the Formulae and Data Sheet.
Include all stages of your working.
(2)

Planet = ......................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

23
 *P75500A02332* Turn over
 (d) Two astronomers want to determine the Earth’s diameter.
They decide to use two shadow sticks situated at different locations on the Earth.

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Design an observational programme that would enable the two astronomers to
determine the Earth’s diameter using two shadow sticks.
Your observational programme should include:
• the readings that the astronomers should take
• how the astronomers will analyse their data to determine the Earth’s diameter.
(6)

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................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

24
*P75500A02432* 
 ................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(Total for Question 8 = 14 marks)

25
 *P75500A02532* Turn over
9 (a) Describe one similarity and one difference between the design of an equatorial
sundial and a horizontal sundial.
(2)

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DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Similarity

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Difference

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) Figure 5 shows the annual variation of the Equation of Time.

Equation of
Time (min)
20 20

15 15

10 10

5 5

0 0

−5 −5

−10 −10

−15 −15
1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan
Date

Figure 5
(i) State the date nearest to the vernal equinox when the local Mean Solar Time
is equal to the local Apparent Solar Time.
(1)

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*P75500A02632* 
 (ii) Explain why Figure 5 suggests that a sundial reading would differ greatly from
local Mean Solar Time in November.
(2)
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................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) A correctly aligned sundial is used to produce the following results.

Date = 15 December

Sundial reading = 14:00

Longitude of sundial = 2.5°E

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) = 13:42

The accuracy of the sundial is defined as:

accuracy of sundial = corrected sundial reading – GMT
Calculate the accuracy of the sundial.
Use information from Figure 5.
Give your answer to the nearest minute.
(4)

Accuracy = ..................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . min

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 *P75500A02732* Turn over
 (d) Two causes of the annual variation of the Equation of Time are the Earth’s elliptical
orbit around the Sun and the Earth’s axial tilt to the ecliptic.

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Figure 6 shows how these two causes contribute to the annual variation of the
Equation of Time.

Equation of
Time (min)
20 20

15 15
Earth’s elliptical orbit
10 10

5 5

0 0

−5 −5

−10 −10
Earth’s axial tilt
−15 −15
1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan
Date

Figure 6
(i) Analyse Figure 6 in order to explain why the Equation of Time can have a
value of zero on some dates.
(2)

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................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

28
*P75500A02832* 
 (ii) Analyse Figure 6 in order to determine which of these two causes gives the
greater contribution to the annual variation of the Equation of Time.
(2)
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................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(Total for Question 9 = 13 marks)

29
 *P75500A02932* Turn over
10 An astronomer in the northern hemisphere observes and records the altitude of
star A between 20:00 and 06:00.

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Table 4 shows the altitude of star A above the astronomer’s horizon between
20:00 and 06:00 during the observation.
The data in Table 4 are shown as a graph in Figure 7.

Time Altitude Altitude of star (°)

(GMT) of star A
(°)

20:00 40

22:00 52 ×
00:00 55

02:00 48
×
04:00 33

06:00 15 ×

Table 4

20:00 22:00 00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00

Time (GMT)

Figure 7

(a) Complete the graph in Figure 7 using the data in Table 4.

You should:
• add an appropriate scale on the vertical axis
• plot the remaining points
• draw a line of best fit.
(3)

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*P75500A03032* 
 (b) State the time at which star A culminated.
(1)
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Time = ............................. . . : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(c) State the hour angle of star A at 02:00.
(1)

Hour Angle = ............................... h ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . min

(d) In which direction was the astronomer looking at 03:00 to observe star A?
Use data from Figure 7.
(1)
A north-east

B south-east

C south-west

D north-west
(e) Explain why star A’s altitude changed over the course of the observation.
(2)

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(f ) Explain why star A is not circumpolar.

Use data from Figure 7.
(2)

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

31
 *P75500A03132* Turn over
 (g) The astronomer was located at a latitude of 26° N.
Calculate the declination of star A.

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Use the equation:

altitude of the star
= observer’s latitude + (90 − declination of the star)
at culmination

(2)

Declination = ............................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . °
(h) Star B has a declination that is 10 degrees further from the north celestial pole
than star A.
Sketch on Figure 7 a line or curve to show how the altitude of star B changes
between 20:00 and 06:00.
(2)
(Total for Question 10 = 14 marks)

TOTAL FOR PAPER = 100 MARKS

Image Credits

Figure 5 – Source © Dominic Ford 2011–2024. Taken from in-the-sky.org.

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*P75500A03232* 