plumiClassification by luminosity: AQA A‑Level Physics questions
AQA A-Level Physics past-paper questions on 3.9.2.1 Classification by luminosity, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q04.4
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All 13 questions on Classification by luminosity, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.4 (3 marks): Explain the variation in apparent magnitude shown in Figure 2. In your answer you should explain: • the changes in observed brightness at P and Q, as shown in F
- June 2023, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.3 (2 marks): Calculate the apparent magnitude of WASP-82. [2 marks] apparent magnitude =
- June 2023, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04 (6 marks): M40 A and M40 B are two stars that appear very close to each other when viewed from Earth. There are two possible reasons for this: • they are an orbiting binar
- June 2022, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.3 (3 marks): Assume that the quasar and the galaxy are both viewed from the same distance. Explain which would be the brighter object. Go on to calculate the ratio brightnes
- November 2021, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.2 (3 marks): The Andromeda galaxy is approximately 7.7 × 105 pc from Earth. Deduce whether a type 1a supernova which occurred in Andromeda can be observed from Earth with th
- June 2019, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.1 (3 marks): Discuss, with reference to the Hipparcos scale, why many star maps show only two stars in the constellation Canis Minor. [3 marks]
- June 2018, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.3 (6 marks): Two stars, 61 Cygnus A and 61 Cygnus B, can be seen very close together in the constellation Cygnus. Early astronomers were unsure whether the two stars form a
- June 2017, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.2 (3 marks): Deduce which star is larger, Kornephoros or Rutilicus. [3 marks
- Specimen, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.2 (2 marks): The Summer Triangle consists of three stars, Altair, Deneb and Vega. Some of the properties of the three stars are summarised in Table 2. Table 2 Altair Deneb V
- June 2016, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q2(b)(i) (6 marks): With reference to the data in Table 1, compare the three stars. Your answer should include a discussion of: the appearance to the naked eye of the three stars
- June 2013, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): Using these data, describe and explain one similarity and one difference in the appearance of the two stars as seen with the unaided eye by an observer on the E
- June 2010, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): Show that data in the table suggests that one star is about 8000 times brighter than the other. (2 marks)
- June 2010, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q2(b)(iii) (3 marks): With reference to the spectra of the two stars, explain why the value in part b (ii) is much greater than the answer to part b (i).
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