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The Big Bang and red-shift: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Physics exam question on The Big Bang and red-shift (specification points 7.8–7.15), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,554 questions

  1. Q10(c)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    6 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 10(c): There have been a number of theories about the origin and development of the Universe. One theory about the origin and development of the Universe is The Big Ba

  2. Q1(c)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 1(c)(i): Estimate the difference between the wavelength of line P in the spectrum from the distant galaxy and the wavelength of line P in the spectrum on Earth. (1)  di

  3. Q1(c)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 1(c)(ii): Scientists have discovered that light from almost all distant galaxies has spectral lines shifted towards the red end of the spectrum. Explain how red shift in

  4. Q4(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 4(a)(i): Calculate the difference between the wavelength that E emits and the wavelength that D detects. (1) difference in wavelength = m

  5. Q4(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 4(a)(ii): The velocity of sound is 330 m / s. Calculate the velocity of E. (2) Use the equation × velocity of E = velocity of sound difference in wavelength wavelength em

  6. Q4(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 4(b): The wavelength of light emitted from distant galaxies is different when the light is detected on Earth. Explain how this difference in wavelength shows that the

  7. Q4(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 4(c): CMB radiation provides evidence that the Universe had a definite beginning. Use the table in Figure 7 to give a typical value for the wavelength of CMB radiatio

  8. Q10(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 10(a)(i): Calculate the difference between the wavelength that E emits and the wavelength that D detects. (1) difference in wavelength = m

  9. Q10(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 10(a)(ii): The velocity of sound is 330 m / s. Calculate the velocity of E. (2) Use the equation velocity of E = velocity of sound × difference in wavelength E wavelength

  10. Q10(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 10(b): The wavelength of light emitted from distant galaxies is different when the light is detected on Earth. Explain how this difference in wavelength shows that the

  11. Q10(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 10(c): CMB radiation provides evidence that the Universe had a definite beginning. Use the table in Figure 20 to give a typical value for the wavelength of CMB radiati

  12. Q6(a)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markThe Big Bang and red-shift
    Mark scheme (PDF)
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 6(a): The Big Bang and Steady State are two theories of the origin of the Universe. Red shift and cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation have been discovered by

  13. Q6(b)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 6(b)(i): Show that the red shift for the light from the distant galaxy is about 0.025 (2)

  14. Q6(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 6(b)(ii): The galaxy is moving away from the Earth at velocity, v (recession velocity). The velocity of light, c = 3.00 × 108 m/s The recession velocity is given by the e

  15. Q6(b)(iii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 6(b)(iii): The wavelength of the spectral line X measured for a more distant galaxy was 6.92 × 10–7 m. Explain how this provides evidence that the Universe is expanding. (

  16. Q4(a)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 4(a): Which of these provides evidence that the Universe had a beginning? (1) A the discovery of other galaxies B the discovery of the moons of Jupiter C the discover

  17. Q4(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 4(b): Evidence that the Universe is still expanding comes from observations of light from distant galaxies. Describe how light from distant galaxies shows that the Un

  18. Q4(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 4(c): The Steady State theory is also a theory about the origin of the Universe. Give one similarity and one difference when comparing the Big Bang theory with the St

  19. Q4(d)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 4(d)(i): Use Figure 4 to estimate the velocity of a galaxy that is 15 Mpc away from the Earth. (1) velocity = km/s

  20. Q4(d)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksThe Big Bang and red-shift
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 4(d)(ii): Calculate the gradient of the line shown in Figure 4. State the unit. (3) gradient = unit
All 40 questions on The Big Bang and red-shift, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q10(c) (6 marks): There have been a number of theories about the origin and development of the Universe. One theory about the origin and development of the Universe is The Big Ba
  2. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(c)(i) (1 mark): Estimate the difference between the wavelength of line P in the spectrum from the distant galaxy and the wavelength of line P in the spectrum on Earth. (1)  di
  3. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(c)(ii) (3 marks): Scientists have discovered that light from almost all distant galaxies has spectral lines shifted towards the red end of the spectrum. Explain how red shift in
  4. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the difference between the wavelength that E emits and the wavelength that D detects. (1) difference in wavelength = m
  5. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a)(ii) (2 marks): The velocity of sound is 330 m / s. Calculate the velocity of E. (2) Use the equation × velocity of E = velocity of sound difference in wavelength wavelength em
  6. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(b) (2 marks): The wavelength of light emitted from distant galaxies is different when the light is detected on Earth. Explain how this difference in wavelength shows that the
  7. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(c) (2 marks): CMB radiation provides evidence that the Universe had a definite beginning. Use the table in Figure 7 to give a typical value for the wavelength of CMB radiatio
  8. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the difference between the wavelength that E emits and the wavelength that D detects. (1) difference in wavelength = m
  9. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(a)(ii) (2 marks): The velocity of sound is 330 m / s. Calculate the velocity of E. (2) Use the equation velocity of E = velocity of sound × difference in wavelength E wavelength
  10. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(b) (2 marks): The wavelength of light emitted from distant galaxies is different when the light is detected on Earth. Explain how this difference in wavelength shows that the
  11. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(c) (2 marks): CMB radiation provides evidence that the Universe had a definite beginning. Use the table in Figure 20 to give a typical value for the wavelength of CMB radiati
  12. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(a) (1 mark): The Big Bang and Steady State are two theories of the origin of the Universe. Red shift and cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation have been discovered by
  13. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Show that the red shift for the light from the distant galaxy is about 0.025 (2)
  14. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): The galaxy is moving away from the Earth at velocity, v (recession velocity). The velocity of light, c = 3.00 × 108 m/s The recession velocity is given by the e
  15. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b)(iii) (2 marks): The wavelength of the spectral line X measured for a more distant galaxy was 6.92 × 10–7 m. Explain how this provides evidence that the Universe is expanding. (
  16. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a) (1 mark): Which of these provides evidence that the Universe had a beginning? (1) A the discovery of other galaxies B the discovery of the moons of Jupiter C the discover
  17. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(b) (2 marks): Evidence that the Universe is still expanding comes from observations of light from distant galaxies. Describe how light from distant galaxies shows that the Un
  18. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(c) (2 marks): The Steady State theory is also a theory about the origin of the Universe. Give one similarity and one difference when comparing the Big Bang theory with the St
  19. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(d)(i) (1 mark): Use Figure 4 to estimate the velocity of a galaxy that is 15 Mpc away from the Earth. (1) velocity = km/s
  20. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(d)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the gradient of the line shown in Figure 4. State the unit. (3) gradient = unit
  21. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(d)(iii) (2 marks): The gradient of the line in Figure 4 can be used to estimate the age of the Universe. Explain why the gradient of the line in Figure 4 can only provide an estim
  22. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(a) (1 mark): Which of these provides evidence that the Universe had a beginning? (1) A the discovery of other galaxies B the discovery of the moons of Jupiter C the discover
  23. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(b) (2 marks): Evidence that the Universe is still expanding comes from observations of light from distant galaxies. Describe how light from distant galaxies shows that the Un
  24. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(c) (2 marks): The Steady State theory is also a theory about the origin of the Universe. Give one similarity and one difference when comparing the Big Bang theory with the St
  25. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(d)(i) (1 mark): Use Figure 15 to estimate the velocity of a galaxy that is 15 Mpc away from the Earth. (1) velocity = km/s
  26. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(d)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the gradient of the line shown in Figure 15. State the unit. (3) gradient = unit
  27. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(d)(iii) (2 marks): The gradient of the line in Figure 15 can be used to estimate the age of the Universe. Explain why the gradient of the line in Figure 15 can only provide an est
  28. June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q10(b) (6 marks): The Big Bang theory gives an explanation for the origin of the Universe. Explain how evidence supports the ideas that ● the Universe is expanding ● the Universe
  29. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): An astronomer observes light from a distant galaxy. As the galaxy moves away from us, the spectrum of the light is (1) A blue-shifted B green-shifted Cred-shift
  30. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): The shift in the spectrum of light from the distant galaxy provides evidence for the expansion of the (1) A Earth B Milky Way Galaxy C Solar System • D Universe
  31. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): Describe what is meant by red-shift. (2)
  32. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how red-shift provides evidence for the Big Bang theory. (2)
  33. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(c)(iii) (1 mark): The Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite observed CMB radiation from 1989 to 1993. State what the ‘M’ in CMB radiation stands for. (1)
  34. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(c)(iv) (1 mark): State what is meant by ‘cosmic background radiation’. (1)
  35. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(c)(v) (2 marks): Explain how the presence of CMB radiation provides evidence for the Big Bang theory. (2)
  36. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(c)(i) (2 marks): Describe what is meant by red‑shift. (2)
  37. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how red‑shift provides evidence for the Big Bang theory. (2)
  38. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(c)(iii) (1 mark): The Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite observed CMB radiation from 1989 to 1993. State what the ‘M’ in CMB radiation stands for. (1)
  39. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(c)(iv) (1 mark): State what is meant by ‘cosmic background radiation’. (1)
  40. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(c)(v) (2 marks): Explain how the presence of CMB radiation provides evidence for the Big Bang theory. (2)

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