plumiAge and fate of the universe, dark matter: Edexcel International A Level Physics questions
Edexcel International A Level Physics past-paper questions on 5.6.4.2 Age and fate of the universe, dark matter, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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All 15 questions on Age and fate of the universe, dark matter, as a list
- June 2025, Unit 5, Q4 (1 mark): A megaparsec, Mpc, is a unit of distance used by astronomers. 1 Mpc = 3.1 × 10 22 m Recent estimates of the Hubble constant give a value of 74 km s –1 Mpc –1. W
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q7 (1 mark): The value of the Hubble constant, H0, was initially estimated to be 1.5 × 10 –17 s –1. Using this initial value, the age of the universe is T. Scientists now es
- October 2024, Unit 5, Q7 (1 mark): The universe is currently expanding, but the ultimate fate of the universe is unknown. Different conditions would result in a different ultimate fate for the un
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q18(b)(ii) (4 marks): The orbital period of the star is actually 6.0 × 10 The two values for the orbital period of the star do not agree. Deduce what this tells us about our galaxy.
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q18(c) (4 marks): NGC 1357 is a spiral galaxy moving away from the Milky Way at a speed of 2.02 × 10 6 m s –1. The spiral galaxy is 8.70 × 10 23 m from the Earth. Calculate a val
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q1 (1 mark): The ultimate fate of the universe is uncertain. Which of the following would result in an open universe? A The average density of the universe is equal to the
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q16(a) (2 marks): Describe what is meant by dark matter. (2)
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q16(c) (2 marks): The ultimate fate of our universe is uncertain. Explain how the existence of dark matter contributes to this uncertainty. (2)
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q12(a)(ii) (2 marks): Determine a value for the age of the universe in years. 1 year = 3.16 × 107 s (2) Age of universe = years
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q12(b) (2 marks): In the 1950s, astronomers realised that they had made an error in their determination of distances to galaxies. Galaxies are twice as far away as astronomers ha
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q16(a)(ii) (2 marks): The observed variation of v with r has been added to produce the graph below. v observed expected r Suggest why the ‘observed’ velocity varies as shown. (2)
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q16(b) (2 marks): The ultimate fate of the universe may be a closed universe, but astronomers cannot be sure what their current models predict. Explain why astronomers cannot be
- October 2021, Unit 5, Q17(b) (4 marks): Explain how a knowledge of the distances to distant galaxies has enabled astronomers to determine a value for the age of the universe. (4)
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q2 (1 mark): The initial value determined by astronomers for the Hubble constant was smaller than the currently accepted value. Which of the following statements is correct?
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q2 (1 mark): Scientists believe that some of the mass of our universe consists of “dark matter”. Which of the following is true of dark matter? A It absorbs all electromagne
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