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Cosmology: AQA A‑Level Physics questions

Every AQA A-Level Physics exam question on 3.9.3 Cosmology, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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2,714 questions

  1. Q03.1

    June 2025 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    3 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 03.1: The galaxy M87 is at a distance of 5.3 × 107 ly from the Earth. Determine, in m s−1, the recessional velocity of M87 relative to the Earth. [3 marks] recessiona

  2. Q03.2

    June 2025 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    1 mark3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 03.2: Astronomers believe that M87 has an active supermassive black hole at its centre. Suggest one observation that leads to this conclusion. [1 mark]

  3. Q03.3

    June 2025 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    1 mark3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 03.3: Which provides evidence for the existence of dark energy? Tick () one box. [1 mark]

  4. Q04.1

    June 2024 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    2 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 04.1: The Andromeda Galaxy approaches the Milky Way at a speed of 110 km s−1. The distance between the galaxies is 770 kpc. Discuss whether these data can be used to

  5. Q04.3

    June 2024 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    6 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 04.3: Scientists predict that a quasar will be produced as the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy merge. Explain what is meant by a quasar. Go on to suggest why a qua

  6. Q03.3

    June 2023 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    3 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 03.3: A star is orbiting the black hole in M87. The star is observed in the plane of its orbit. The wavelength of a spectral line observed in the light emitted from t

  7. Q05.1

    June 2023 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    3 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 05.1: Estimate, using Figure 2, the age in seconds of the Universe. [3 marks] age of Universe = s

  8. Q05.2

    June 2023 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    2 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 05.2: The estimate in Question 05.1 assumes that the Universe has expanded at a constant rate. Measurements involving type 1a supernovae that are at large distances f

  9. Q02.2

    June 2022 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    1 mark3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 02.2: State why the average of the values in Table 1 is different from the laboratory value. [1 mark]

  10. Q02.3

    June 2022 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    3 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 02.3: Show that the orbital speed of the primary star is about 250 km s−1. [3 marks]

  11. Q03.1

    June 2022 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    1 mark3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 03.1: State the property of the quasar that led to its discovery. [1 mark]

  12. Q04

    June 2022 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    6 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 04: In the middle of the 20th century, there were two competing theories of the Universe. In 1964, electromagnetic radiation was observed coming from all directions

  13. Q02.1

    November 2021 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    1 mark3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 02.1: Which graph shows the light curve for a typical type 1a supernova? Tick () one box. [1 mark] A B C D A B C D

  14. Q02.2

    November 2021 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    3 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 02.2: 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

  15. Q04.1

    November 2021 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    2 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 04.1: Suggest why the quasar stopped emitting radiation. [2 marks]

  16. Q04.2

    November 2021 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    4 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 04.2: IC2497 has a red shift of 0.0516 Determine the distance from the Earth to IC2497. Give an appropriate unit for your answer. [4 marks] distance = unit =

  17. Q03.1

    November 2020 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    1 mark3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 03.1: State what is meant by a standard candle. [1 mark]

  18. Q03.2

    November 2020 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    3 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 03.2: Sketch on Figure 2 the light curve for a type 1a supernova. Annotate your graph with suitable scales and a unit for time. [3 marks] Figure 2

  19. Q03.3

    November 2020 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    6 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 03.3: Measurements of type 1a supernovae are used to find a value for the Hubble constant. The distance from Earth is known for many type 1a supernovae. Describe how

  20. Q02.4

    June 2019 · Paper 3 Astrophysics

    2 marks3.9.3 Cosmology
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3 Astrophysics, question 02.4: Astronomers recently used the radial velocity method to discover an exoplanet orbiting HD 66141. Describe the main features of the radial velocity method in the
All 30 questions on Cosmology, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.1 (3 marks): The galaxy M87 is at a distance of 5.3 × 107 ly from the Earth. Determine, in m s−1, the recessional velocity of M87 relative to the Earth. [3 marks] recessiona
  2. June 2025, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.2 (1 mark): Astronomers believe that M87 has an active supermassive black hole at its centre. Suggest one observation that leads to this conclusion. [1 mark]
  3. June 2025, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.3 (1 mark): Which provides evidence for the existence of dark energy? Tick () one box. [1 mark]
  4. June 2024, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.1 (2 marks): The Andromeda Galaxy approaches the Milky Way at a speed of 110 km s−1. The distance between the galaxies is 770 kpc. Discuss whether these data can be used to
  5. June 2024, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.3 (6 marks): Scientists predict that a quasar will be produced as the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy merge. Explain what is meant by a quasar. Go on to suggest why a qua
  6. June 2023, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.3 (3 marks): A star is orbiting the black hole in M87. The star is observed in the plane of its orbit. The wavelength of a spectral line observed in the light emitted from t
  7. June 2023, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q05.1 (3 marks): Estimate, using Figure 2, the age in seconds of the Universe. [3 marks] age of Universe = s
  8. June 2023, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q05.2 (2 marks): The estimate in Question 05.1 assumes that the Universe has expanded at a constant rate. Measurements involving type 1a supernovae that are at large distances f
  9. June 2022, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.2 (1 mark): State why the average of the values in Table 1 is different from the laboratory value. [1 mark]
  10. June 2022, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.3 (3 marks): Show that the orbital speed of the primary star is about 250 km s−1. [3 marks]
  11. June 2022, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.1 (1 mark): State the property of the quasar that led to its discovery. [1 mark]
  12. June 2022, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04 (6 marks): In the middle of the 20th century, there were two competing theories of the Universe. In 1964, electromagnetic radiation was observed coming from all directions
  13. November 2021, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.1 (1 mark): Which graph shows the light curve for a typical type 1a supernova? Tick () one box. [1 mark] A B C D A B C D
  14. 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
  15. November 2021, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.1 (2 marks): Suggest why the quasar stopped emitting radiation. [2 marks]
  16. November 2021, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.2 (4 marks): IC2497 has a red shift of 0.0516 Determine the distance from the Earth to IC2497. Give an appropriate unit for your answer. [4 marks] distance = unit =
  17. November 2020, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.1 (1 mark): State what is meant by a standard candle. [1 mark]
  18. November 2020, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.2 (3 marks): Sketch on Figure 2 the light curve for a type 1a supernova. Annotate your graph with suitable scales and a unit for time. [3 marks] Figure 2
  19. November 2020, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.3 (6 marks): Measurements of type 1a supernovae are used to find a value for the Hubble constant. The distance from Earth is known for many type 1a supernovae. Describe how
  20. June 2019, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.4 (2 marks): Astronomers recently used the radial velocity method to discover an exoplanet orbiting HD 66141. Describe the main features of the radial velocity method in the
  21. June 2019, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.1 (3 marks): Table 3 contains information about two galaxies. Table 3 Galaxy Red shift, z Distance from Earth / ly NGC 936 4.8 × 10–3 6.8 × 107 NGC 3379 3.0 × 10–3 3.2 × 107
  22. June 2019, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.2 (2 marks): Quasars are the most distant measurable objects. Discuss one problem associated with the determination of the distance from the Earth to a quasar. [2 marks]
  23. June 2018, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.1 (2 marks): Describe the links between galaxies, black holes and quasars. [2 marks]
  24. June 2018, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.2 (4 marks): At a distance of 5.81 × 108 light year, Markarian-231 is the closest known quasar to the Earth. The red shift z of Markarian-231 is 0.0415 Use these data to est
  25. June 2018, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.3 (3 marks): A typical quasar is believed to be approximately the size of the solar system, with a power output similar to that of a thousand galaxies. Estimate, with refere
  26. June 2018, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.1 (3 marks): Explain what is meant by cosmological microwave background radiation and how its existence supports the Big Bang theory. [3 marks]
  27. June 2018, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.2 (3 marks): Explain how the relative abundance of hydrogen and helium supports the Big Bang theory. [3 marks]
  28. June 2017, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.1 (3 marks): Sketch, on the axes in Figure 1, the light curve for a typical type 1a supernova. Label the axes with suitable scales. [3 marks
  29. June 2017, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.2 (1 mark): Type 1a supernovae can be used as standard candles. Explain what is meant by a standard candle. [1 mark
  30. June 2017, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.3 (3 marks): Measurements of type 1a supernovae in 1999 led to a controversy concerning the behaviour of the Universe. Describe this controversy and how the measurements led

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