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Stars: OCR A‑Level Physics A questions

Every OCR A-Level Physics A exam question on 5.5.1 Stars, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,877 questions

  1. Q10

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 10: Which of the following determines whether a super red giant evolves to a black hole? A Dark matter B Electron degeneracy C Mass of the core D The Chandrasekhar

  2. Q12

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 12: Which option correctly gives the likely evolution of the Sun? Luminosity 2 1 Sun 3 Temperature A 1 2 3 B 1 3 C 2 1 3 D 2 3 Your answer [1]

  3. Q21(c)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    3 marks5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 21(c): The luminosity of Nu Persei was estimated using the temperature of Nu Persei and the Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram in Fig. 21.2. L is the luminosity of a sta

  4. Q22

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    6 marks5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 22: 22* A star has a mass similar to that of the Sun. Describe how the position of this star on a Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram changes as it evolves. Fig. 22.1

  5. Q3(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    2 marks5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 3(a)(i): Describe the formation of a neutron star. [2]

  6. Q3(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    1 mark5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 3(a)(ii): State one characteristic of a neutron star. [1]

  7. Q3(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    3 marks5.5.1 Stars6.4.1 The nuclear atom
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 3(b): A typical neutron star can be modelled as a sphere with mass ≈ 2 × 1030 kg and radius ≈ 10 km. Show that the average density of a neutron star is similar to the

  8. Q21(a)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 21(a): A nebula is a giant cloud of gas and dust in space. The nebula can produce a star over a long period of time. State what causes the initial collapse of the nebu

  9. Q21(c)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    2 marks5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 21(c)(i): Calculate the ratio mass of nebula X mass of the Sun . ratio = [2]

  10. Q21(c)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    4 marks5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 21(c)(ii): After a long time, nebula X will form a stable star. Describe the eventual evolution of this star. [4]

  11. Q22(b)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    6 marks5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 22(b): (b)* It is suggested that the luminosity L and the mass M of a star can be compared to the Sun by the equation b L = M ⎛ ⎞ L9 M9 ⎝ ⎠ where L9 is the luminosity

  12. Q23(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    2 marks5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 23(c): The Aa1 star could evolve into a black hole. State two ways in which the black hole would differ from the Aa1 star. 1. 2. [2]

  13. Q24(a)

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    4 marks5.5.1 Stars
    Mark scheme (PDF)
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 24(a): Our Sun will eventually become a red giant. Describe and explain the next stages of evolution of our Sun. [4]

  14. Q24(c)

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 24(c): An astronomer claims to have discovered a white dwarf with a mass twice that of our Sun. Suggest why this claim must be incorrect. [1]

  15. Q14

    June 2019 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1, question 14: Some stars will evolve into white dwarfs. The mass of the Sun is 2.0 × 1030 kg. Which of the following cannot be the mass of a white dwarf? 1.2 × 1030 kg A 2.0

  16. Q19(a)

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 19(a): State the type of stars found in regions A and B. A B [1]

  17. Q19(b)(ii)

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 19(b)(ii): On Fig. 19, mark the likely position of Beta Pictoris with a letter P. [1]

  18. Q23(b)(ii)

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.5.1 Stars
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 23(b)(ii): State one of the characteristics of a black hole. [1]
All 18 questions on Stars, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q10 (1 mark): Which of the following determines whether a super red giant evolves to a black hole? A Dark matter B Electron degeneracy C Mass of the core D The Chandrasekhar
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q12 (1 mark): Which option correctly gives the likely evolution of the Sun? Luminosity 2 1 Sun 3 Temperature A 1 2 3 B 1 3 C 2 1 3 D 2 3 Your answer [1]
  3. June 2024, Paper 1, Q21(c) (3 marks): The luminosity of Nu Persei was estimated using the temperature of Nu Persei and the Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram in Fig. 21.2. L is the luminosity of a sta
  4. June 2023, Paper 1, Q22 (6 marks): 22* A star has a mass similar to that of the Sun. Describe how the position of this star on a Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram changes as it evolves. Fig. 22.1
  5. June 2023, Paper 3, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe the formation of a neutron star. [2]
  6. June 2023, Paper 3, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): State one characteristic of a neutron star. [1]
  7. June 2023, Paper 3, Q3(b) (3 marks): A typical neutron star can be modelled as a sphere with mass ≈ 2 × 1030 kg and radius ≈ 10 km. Show that the average density of a neutron star is similar to the
  8. June 2022, Paper 1, Q21(a) (1 mark): A nebula is a giant cloud of gas and dust in space. The nebula can produce a star over a long period of time. State what causes the initial collapse of the nebu
  9. June 2022, Paper 1, Q21(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the ratio mass of nebula X mass of the Sun . ratio = [2]
  10. June 2022, Paper 1, Q21(c)(ii) (4 marks): After a long time, nebula X will form a stable star. Describe the eventual evolution of this star. [4]
  11. June 2022, Paper 1, Q22(b) (6 marks): (b)* It is suggested that the luminosity L and the mass M of a star can be compared to the Sun by the equation b L = M ⎛ ⎞ L9 M9 ⎝ ⎠ where L9 is the luminosity
  12. November 2021, Paper 1, Q23(c) (2 marks): The Aa1 star could evolve into a black hole. State two ways in which the black hole would differ from the Aa1 star. 1. 2. [2]
  13. November 2020, Paper 1, Q24(a) (4 marks): Our Sun will eventually become a red giant. Describe and explain the next stages of evolution of our Sun. [4]
  14. November 2020, Paper 1, Q24(c) (1 mark): An astronomer claims to have discovered a white dwarf with a mass twice that of our Sun. Suggest why this claim must be incorrect. [1]
  15. June 2019, Paper 1, Q14 (1 mark): Some stars will evolve into white dwarfs. The mass of the Sun is 2.0 × 1030 kg. Which of the following cannot be the mass of a white dwarf? 1.2 × 1030 kg A 2.0
  16. June 2018, Paper 1, Q19(a) (1 mark): State the type of stars found in regions A and B. A B [1]
  17. June 2018, Paper 1, Q19(b)(ii) (1 mark): On Fig. 19, mark the likely position of Beta Pictoris with a letter P. [1]
  18. June 2018, Paper 1, Q23(b)(ii) (1 mark): State one of the characteristics of a black hole. [1]

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