plumiReflecting telescopes: AQA A‑Level Physics questions
AQA A-Level Physics past-paper questions on 3.9.1.2 Reflecting telescopes, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
All papers
All years
Q02.2
The whole paper ↗Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ01.3
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ01.1
The whole paper ↗Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ01.1
The whole paper ↗Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ01.4
The whole paper ↗Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ01.1
The whole paper ↗Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ01.2
The whole paper ↗Loading the question…
Open the full PDFLoading the question…
Open the full PDFQ01.1
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(c)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(c)
The whole paper ↗Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(a)
The whole paper ↗Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ1(c)
The whole paper ↗Loading the question…
Open the full PDF
All 15 questions on Reflecting telescopes, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q02.2 (6 marks): An astronomer has two telescopes A and B. The astronomer uses each telescope to make observations of Mars when Mars is 0.55 AU from the Earth. Table 1 gives inf
- June 2024, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q01.3 (3 marks): State and explain the effect that the addition of the cap has on the chromatic aberration caused by the lens. [3 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q01.1 (1 mark): Draw a ray diagram to show how a converging lens can cause spherical aberration. [1 mark] principal axis
- November 2020, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q01.1 (2 marks): Draw a ray diagram for a Cassegrain telescope. Your diagram should show the paths of two rays up to the eyepiece lens. The rays should initially be parallel to
- November 2020, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q01.4 (3 marks): An astrophysicist had to decide whether to use a reflecting telescope or a refracting telescope on the spacecraft in Question 01.2. Discuss which type of telesc
- June 2019, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q01.1 (1 mark): The lenses used in refracting telescopes can cause chromatic aberration. Complete Figure 1 to show how a lens produces chromatic aberration. [1 mark] Figure 1
- June 2019, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q01.2 (1 mark): A Cassegrain telescope uses mirrors. What are the shapes of the primary and secondary mirrors in a Cassegrain telescope? Tick () one box. [1 mark] Primary mirr
- June 2017, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q01 (2 marks): Draw the ray diagram for a Cassegrain telescope. Your diagram should show the paths of two rays, initially parallel to the principal axis, as far as the eyepiec
- Specimen, Paper 3 Astrophysics, Q01.1 (2 marks): The concave mirrors used in some reflecting telescopes can suffer from spherical aberration. 0 1 Draw a diagram to show what is meant by spherical aberration wh
- June 2016, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q1(c) (1 mark): Further analysis of the lens reveals that the value of its focal length depends on the wavelength of the light used. What is the name given to the image problem
- June 2015, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Draw a ray diagram for a Cassegrain telescope. [2 marks]
- June 2014, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q1(c) (1 mark): The images formed by refracting telescopes can suffer from chromatic aberration. Draw a labelled diagram to show how a converging lens causes chromatic aberrati
- June 2011, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q1(a) (2 marks): Draw the ray diagram for a Cassegrain telescope. Your diagram should show the paths of two rays, initially parallel to the principal axis, as far as the eyepiec
- June 2011, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): The use of a parabolic reflector overcomes the problem of spherical aberration. Draw a ray diagram to show how spherical aberration is caused by a concave spher
- June 2010, PHYA5 Astrophysics (old spec), Q1(c) (2 marks): Early refracting telescopes suffered significantly from chromatic aberration. Draw a diagram to show how a single converging lens produces chromatic aberration.
Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © AQA, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? AQA A-Level Physics past papers.
The Plumi iPad app also offers exam-style questions with AI feedback on your handwritten working.