plumiPrinciples of the use of stellar spectral classes: AQA A‑Level Physics questions
AQA A-Level Physics past-paper questions on 3.9.2.4 Principles of the use of stellar spectral classes, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q04.2
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All 19 questions on Principles of the use of stellar spectral classes, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.2 (1 mark): State the most prominent absorption lines in the spectrum of Mintaka Aa2. [1 mark]
- June 2025, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q04.3 (1 mark): Explain which star in Table 2 has the greater temperature. [1 mark]
- June 2024, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.3 (1 mark): Which row gives the type and spectral class of the star? Tick () one box. [1 mark] Type of star Spectral class white dwarf F main sequence G red giant K main s
- June 2023, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q01.2 (1 mark): State the spectral class of Rigel. [1 mark]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.5 (1 mark): Which absorption lines would be most prominent in the spectrum of the primary star? Tick () one box. [1 mark] hydrogen hydrogen and helium ionised metals neutr
- November 2021, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03 (6 marks): Miaplacidus and Avior are two stars in the constellation Carina. Miaplacidus is a class A star. Avior is a class K star. Figure 2 shows how the intensity of rad
- November 2020, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.1 (1 mark): Which star has the highest surface temperature? Tick () one box. [1 mark] Caph Ruchbah Schedar Tsih
- June 2019, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.2 (2 marks): State and explain which star in Table 2 has the most prominent Hydrogen Balmer absorption lines. [2 marks]
- June 2018, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.4 (1 mark): What is the spectral class of 61 Cygnus A? Tick () the correct box. [1 mark] A F G K
- June 2017, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q03.4 (2 marks): Explain which star produced the black-body radiation curve described in question 03.3. [2 marks
- Specimen, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.1 (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 2015, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q2(b) (2 marks): The black body temperature of each star is approximately 9200 K. Explain why a Hydrogen Balmer line was chosen for the analysis of wavelength variation. [2 mark
- June 2014, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q3(c)(iv) (1 mark): star Y, which is significantly larger than the Sun and has prominent absorption lines of neutral atoms and titanium oxide (TiO) in its spectrum. [1 mark]
- 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 2012, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q3(c)(i) (1 mark): To which spectral class does Bellatrix belong? (1 mark)
- June 2012, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q3(c)(ii) (1 mark): Prominent features in the Bellatrix spectrum are the Balmer absorption lines due to hydrogen. State the other element responsible for the prominent absorption l
- June 2012, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q3(c)(iii) (1 mark): Why does the spectrum of Betelgeuse not contain prominent Hydrogen Balmer absorption lines? (1 mark)
- June 2011, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q2(c) (6 marks): The spectrum of Deneb contains Hydrogen Balmer absorption lines. Describe how Hydrogen Balmer absorption lines are produced in the spectrum of a star. The quali
- June 2008, PHA5W (2008 spec), Q4(a) (3 marks): 4 (a) Sketch a Hertzsprung–Russell (H–R) diagram on the axes below. Label the position of the main sequence, dwarf and giant stars. Complete the spectral class
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