Motion in the universe: Edexcel International GCSE Physics questions

Every Edexcel International GCSE Physics exam question on Motion in the universe (specification points 8.2–8.6), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 79 questions on Motion in the universe, as a list

June 2025, Paper 1, Q2(a)(i) (3 marks): Table 1 gives some possible names for object X and object Y. Complete the table by placing one tick (ü) in each row to show which orbital path is correct for ea
June 2025, Paper 1, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the force that causes one object to orbit another object in space. (1)
June 2025, Paper 1, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of the galaxy that contains the Sun and the stars shown in table 2. (1)
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q8(a) (1 mark): Give the name of the galaxy the Solar System is in. (1)
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Triton is a moon that orbits the planet, Neptune. Draw a diagram to show the orbit of Neptune and the orbit of Triton in the Solar System. (2)
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q8(b)(ii) (4 marks): Neptune orbits in the Solar System at an orbital speed of 5.4 × 103 m / s with an orbital radius of 4.5 × 1012 m. Pluto is another object in the Solar System. P
November 2024, Paper 1, Q1(a) (2 marks): On Diagram 1, draw the orbit of a comet around the star. (2)
November 2024, Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): On Diagram 1, draw an arrow to show the force the planet exerts on the moon. (1)
November 2024, Paper 1, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): What type of force does the planet exert on the moon? (1) A electric B gravitational C magnetic D nuclear
November 2024, Paper 1, Q1(c) (3 marks): The planet completes one orbit of the star in a time of 2.5 × 108 s. The radius of the planet’s orbit is 8.7 × 1010 m. Calculate the orbital speed of the planet
November 2024, Paper 1, Q2(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why the gravitational field strength on the Moon is different from the gravitational field strength on the Earth. (2)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (2 marks): Draw a labelled diagram showing the Moon orbiting the Earth. (2)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the force that causes the Moon to orbit the Earth. (1)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Give the name of another object that orbits the Earth. (1)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q1(b) (1 mark): A planet and a comet both orbit a star. Give a difference between the orbit of a planet and the orbit of a comet. (1)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q1(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a large collection of billions of galaxies? (1) A Milky Way B nebula C solar system D universe
November 2023, Paper 1, Q1(b) (1 mark): Which of these is a correct unit for gravitational field strength, g? (1) A kilogram (kg) B newton (N) C newton kilogram (N kg) D newton per kilogram (N/kg)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q1(c) (1 mark): Which statement explains why the gravitational field strength on the Moon is less than the gravitational field strength on Earth? (1) A the Moon is further away
November 2023, Paper 1, Q1(d) (2 marks): Describe the differences between the orbit of the Moon and the orbit of a comet. You may include a diagram to support your answer. (2)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q8(a) (1 mark): The diagram shows an outline of the galaxy and the star’s position in the galaxy. centre of galaxy star Draw an arrow on the diagram to show the force on the st
November 2023, Paper 1, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): The speed of light is 3.0 × 108 m/s. One light year is the distance light travels in one year. Show that one light year is approximately 1016 m. [one year = 3.2
November 2023, Paper 1, Q8(b)(ii) (3 marks): The star is 29 000 light years away from the centre of the galaxy and has an orbital speed of 220 km/s. Calculate the time period of the star’s orbit around the
June 2023, Paper 2, Q3(c)(i) (1 mark): Use the scale to determine the radius of the circle. (1) radius = cm
June 2023, Paper 2, Q3(c)(ii) (3 marks): The time taken for the electrons to complete one orbit of the circle is 24 ms. Calculate the orbital speed of the electrons. Use the formula π × orbital speed =
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a) (1 mark): The ISS orbits the Earth in a circular orbit. Which of these also orbits the Earth? (1) A a comet B Mars C the Moon D the Sun
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b) (1 mark): Which of these forces causes the ISS to orbit the Earth? (1) A air resistance B electrostatic C friction D gravitational
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(c)(i) (3 marks): The orbital radius of the ISS is 6.8 × 103 km. Calculate the orbital speed of the ISS in km / s. (3) orbital speed = km / s
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(c)(ii) (2 marks): Show that the ISS completes approximately 15 orbits of the Earth each day. (2)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q11(a) (4 marks): A student finds this formula in a textbook, which links distance from the centre of a planet to its gravitational field strength gravitational field strength ×
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q11(b) (3 marks): Olympus Mons is the tallest mountain on Mars. The distance between the centre of Mars and the peak of Olympus Mons is 3410 km. Calculate the gravitational field
January 2023, Paper 2, Q8(a)(ii) (1 mark): Use the graph to determine the time period of the binary star system. (1) time period = years
January 2023, Paper 2, Q8(a)(iii) (4 marks): One of the stars in this binary system has an orbital speed of 19 km/s. Calculate the orbital radius of this star. (4) orbital radius = km
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Draw the orbit of the Earth’s Moon on the diagram. (2)
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Draw the orbit of a comet on the diagram. (2)
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b) (3 marks): Earth orbits the Sun in 365 days with an orbital radius of 150 000 000 km. Calculate the Earth’s orbital speed in km/s. (3) orbital speed = km/s
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(c) (1 mark): Which force keeps the Earth in orbit around the Sun? (1) A electrostatic B gravitational C magnetic D nuclear
June 2022, Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Add an S to the diagram to show the position of the Sun. (1)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): Complete the diagram to show the orbit of the comet. (2)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Add an X to the diagram to show the position where the comet is moving fastest. (1)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q1(b) (3 marks): Describe how the orbit of a comet compares with the orbit of a planet. (3)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q4(a) (3 marks): Plot a bar chart of the gravitational field strength for each planet. (3)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q4(b) (1 mark): Suggest why planets have different gravitational field strengths at their surface. (1)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q4(c) (1 mark): Give the relationship shown by the data in the table between the orbital radius and the orbital speed for the planets in the solar system. (1)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q4(d) (3 marks): Calculate the time period of Mercury’s orbit around the Sun. (3) time period = s
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a) (1 mark): Which of these do planets orbit? (1) A an artificial satellite B a comet C a moon D a star
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b) (1 mark): Which of these has the largest diameter? (1) A a galaxy B the Solar System C the Sun D the universe
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q1(c) (1 mark): Which of these has the smallest diameter? (1) A a galaxy B the Moon C a star D the Solar System
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q1(d) (1 mark): At the surface of the Earth, the gravitational field strength is 10 N/kg. At the surface of the Moon, the gravitational field strength is 1.7 N/kg. Give a reaso
June 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q3(c)(ii) (3 marks): The tube has a radius of 1.1 km and the sulfur particle has an orbital speed of 2.9 × 108 m/s. Calculate the orbital period of the sulfur particle. (3) orbital
January 2022, Paper 1, Q8(c)(i) (1 mark): State the name of the force responsible for keeping Funcube-1 in orbit. (1)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q8(c)(ii) (2 marks): Funcube-1 has an orbital radius of 7100 km and an orbital period of 5800 s. Calculate the orbital speed, in km / s, of Funcube-1. (2) orbital speed = km / s
January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q6(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by the astronomical term galaxy. (1)
January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q6(b) (1 mark): Which of these is a large collection of billions of galaxies? (1) A a nebula B a red giant C the solar system D the universe
November 2021, Paper 1, Q8(a) (2 marks): In the space below, draw a labelled diagram to show how Callisto orbits Jupiter. (2)
November 2021, Paper 1, Q8(b) (4 marks): Callisto orbits Jupiter at an orbital radius of 1 880 000 km and with an orbital period of 400 hours. Calculate the orbital speed of Callisto in km/s. Give your
November 2021, Paper 1, Q8(c)(i) (1 mark): Callisto has a larger mass than the Earth’s moon. Suggest why Callisto has a lower gravitational field strength than the Earth’s moon. (1)
November 2021, Paper 1, Q8(c)(ii) (3 marks): An object has a weight of 59 N on the surface of the Earth’s moon. Calculate the weight of the same object if it were on the surface of Callisto. (3) weight = N
June 2021, Paper 1, Q1(b) (2 marks): The diagram shows the orbit of a comet around a star. Draw a labelled arrow to show the force acting on the comet due to the star. (2) not to scale comet star
June 2021, Paper 2, Q7(d) (3 marks): The small block then moves around the fixed point on the table. The block moves in a circular orbit of radius 17.6 cm at a constant orbital speed of 6 m/s. The
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q3(a) (1 mark): Object X has a circular orbit around the star. State the type of object that has a circular orbit around a star. (1)
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q3(b) (1 mark): Object Y has an elliptical orbit around the star. State the type of object that has an elliptical orbit around a star. (1)
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q3(c) (3 marks): Object X completes an orbit of the star in 35 days. The radius of its orbit is 1.5 × 1011 m. Calculate the orbital speed of object X. (3) orbital speed = m/s
November 2020, Paper 1, Q11(a)(i) (1 mark): State a difference between an artificial satellite’s orbit and a planet’s orbit. (1)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q11(a)(ii) (1 mark): State a similarity between an artificial satellite’s orbit and a moon’s orbit. (1)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q11(b)(i) (4 marks): The diagram shows the orbit of the satellite. orbital height above speed surface of Earth not to scale KALPANA-1 satellite Earth KALPANA-1 has an orbital speed
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a) (3 marks): Complete the sentences by writing a suitable word or phrase in each blank space. (3) Space and all the galaxies in it is called the A large collection of billio
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): At which point in its orbit is the comet moving fastest? (1) A B C D
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Name the force that keeps the comet in orbit around the Sun. (1)
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q1(c) (2 marks): The boxes give some units of time and some definitions. Draw a straight line from each unit of time to its correct definition. (2) Unit of time Definition the t
January 2020, Paper 1, Q12(a) (2 marks): The diagram shows the orbital paths of Mars and Saturn. Not to scale Saturn Sun Mars Draw an orbital path of a comet on the diagram. (2)
January 2020, Paper 1, Q12(b) (5 marks): The table gives some information about the orbits of Mars and Saturn. Mars Saturn Orbital radius in km 2.28 × 108 1.43 × 109 Orbital speed in km/s 24.1 9.70 Mar
January 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q7(b)(iii) (3 marks): The proton completes one orbit of its circular path in a time period of 8.7 × 10–6 seconds. Calculate the orbital speed of the proton. (3) orbital speed = m/s
June 2019, Paper 1, Q8(c) (1 mark): Suggest why Mars has a lower gravitational field strength than Earth. (1)
June 2019, Paper 2, Q1(a) (1 mark): Which force is responsible for keeping satellites in orbit? (1) A electrostatic B gravitational C magnetic D nuclear
June 2019, Paper 2, Q1(b) (1 mark): Which of these is the largest? (1) A galaxy B planet C star D universe
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (2 marks): Add a labelled arrow to the diagram to show the type of force from the star acting on object A. (2)
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): What is object A? (1) A a comet B a galaxy C a moon D a planet
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): What is object B? (1) A a comet B a galaxy C a moon D a planet
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b) (1 mark): State the name given to a large collection of billions of stars. (1)

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