plumiOut into space: OCR A‑Level Physics B questions
Every OCR A-Level Physics B exam question on 5.1.2 Out into space, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q37(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1, question 37(a)(i): On Fig. 37.1 draw one gravitational field line that starts from the point P on the surface of [2] Bennu.](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55701-jun25-37-ai-qp.webp?v=3)
Q37(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1, question 37(a)(ii): For the spacecraft to travel at a constant height above Bennu from R to Q, requires a thrust from its engines. Explain why a thrust is needed. [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55701-jun25-37-aii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q37(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1, question 37(b)(i): Use the graph in Fig. 37.2 to calculate the gravitational force on the spacecraft when it is 600 m above the surface. force = N [4]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55701-jun25-37-bi-qp.webp?v=3)
Q37(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
Q5(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 2, question 5(a)(i): orbital speed of the Earth. Orbital period = 3.2 × 107 s (1 year) angular velocity = rad s–1 orbital speed = m s–1 [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55702-jun25-05-ai-qp.webp?v=3)
Q5(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 2, question 5(a)(ii): Use your answer to (a)(i) to show that the centripetal acceleration of the Earth in its orbit is about 6 × 10–3 m s–2. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55702-jun25-05-aii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q5(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 2, question 5(a)(iii): Use the value from (a)(ii) to calculate the mass of the Sun. mass = kg [3]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55702-jun25-05-aiii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q5(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
![June 2024 Paper 2, question 10(b)(i): Show that the L2 point will make one revolution of the Sun in about 3.2 × 107 s (one year). [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55702-jun24-10-bi-qp.webp?v=3)
Q36(a)
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Q36(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Q36(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
Q36(c)
The whole paper ↗
All 61 questions on Out into space, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q37(a)(i) (2 marks): On Fig. 37.1 draw one gravitational field line that starts from the point P on the surface of [2] Bennu.
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q37(a)(ii) (2 marks): For the spacecraft to travel at a constant height above Bennu from R to Q, requires a thrust from its engines. Explain why a thrust is needed. [2]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q37(b)(i) (4 marks): Use the graph in Fig. 37.2 to calculate the gravitational force on the spacecraft when it is 600 m above the surface. force = N [4]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q37(b)(ii) (3 marks): At the time of its departure from Bennu the Osiris-Rex spacecraft is orbiting 400 m above Bennu. Calculate the velocity required to escape the gravitational fie
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q5(a)(i) (2 marks): orbital speed of the Earth. Orbital period = 3.2 × 107 s (1 year) angular velocity = rad s–1 orbital speed = m s–1 [2]
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q5(a)(ii) (1 mark): Use your answer to (a)(i) to show that the centripetal acceleration of the Earth in its orbit is about 6 × 10–3 m s–2. [1]
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q5(a)(iii) (3 marks): Use the value from (a)(ii) to calculate the mass of the Sun. mass = kg [3]
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q5(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the ratio of the force due to the electric field (electrostatic force) between a proton and an electron and the gravitational force between the same p
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q13 (1 mark): The diagram shows three gravitational equipotentials, X, Y and Z, at distances R, 2R and 3R from an isolated point mass. Y 2R 3R R Z X The gravitational potenti
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q23 (1 mark): A car of mass 1000 kg travels round a bend. The bend is a horizontal circular path of radius 50 m. The maximum speed the car can travel at without skidding is 1
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q9 (4 marks): This question is about the Chandra X-ray Observatory (lines 26–32). The Chandra X-ray Observatory has a highly elliptical orbit. The total energy of the satelli
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q10(a) (3 marks): Calculate the resultant field strength due to the Earth and the Sun at the L2 point. Mass of Sun = 2.0 × 1030 kg Mass of Earth = 6.0 × 1024 kg resultant field s
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q10(b)(i) (2 marks): Show that the L2 point will make one revolution of the Sun in about 3.2 × 107 s (one year). [2]
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q10(b)(ii) (3 marks): The mass of the Moon is about 1% that of the Earth. It orbits the Earth at a radius of 3.8 × 108 m. Suggest and explain the effect of the Moon, if any, on the J
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q26 (1 mark): A hawk glides in a horizontal circle of radius 12 m. The speed of the hawk is 8.9 m s–1. weight of hawk What is the ratio centripetal force on hawk ? 12 m A 1.0
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q36(a) (1 mark): Show that the gravitational potential at the surface of the Moon is about –2.9 × 106 J kg–1. Ignore the effects of other masses in the Solar System. mass of moo
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q36(b)(i) (2 marks): Show that the initial velocity needed for a projectile to leave the surface of the Moon and reach an infinite distance away is about 2.4 × 103 m s–1. Ignore the
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q36(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the initial velocity needed for a projectile to be sent from the Moon’s surface to the Earth as shown in Fig. 36.1 is less than the value given in b
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q36(c) (6 marks): This question is about the gravitational field between the Earth and the Moon. (c)* It is suggested that projectiles can be launched from the Moon to the Earth
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q39(a) (2 marks): Estimate the lifetime of the Sun if gravitational contraction is the source of its energy. State your answer in years. M = 2.0 × 1030 kg R = 7.0 × 108 m L = 3.9
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q31(a) (1 mark): How does the diagram show that the gravitational field is uniform on this scale? [1]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q31(b) (2 marks): Calculate the maximum height reached by a projectile that is launched from the surface of the Moon with a vertical velocity of 20.0 m s–1. State any assumptions
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(a) (3 marks): Use the equation for centripetal force and the equation giving the gravitational force between two bodies, to show that the constant k in Kepler’s relationship
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(b) (2 marks): Ganymede is the largest moon of the planet Jupiter. It orbits Jupiter at a distance of 1.07 × 109 m. The period of the orbit is 6.18 × 105 s. Use Kepler’s relat
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(c)(i) (3 marks): Use ideas of energy transfer to explain why the spacecraft moves faster when it is nearer to Jupiter. The spacecraft motors are not used when it is orbiting the
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(c)(ii) (4 marks): The spacecraft Juno travels at 5.8 × 104 m s–1 at its closest approach to the planet. At its furthest point from Jupiter, the spacecraft is 1.0 × 109 m from the
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q5(d) (3 marks): The spacecraft fired motors to slow it down before it entered orbit with Jupiter. Suggest and explain why this was necessary. [3]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): The planet Mercury has an orbital period of 88.0 Earth days. The mean angular velocity of its orbit, in rad s–1, is 4.13 × 10–7 A 8.26 × 10–7 B 4.73 × 10–5 C 4.
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q17 (1 mark): What is the gain in potential when rising 1000 km above the surface of the planet Mars? Mass of Mars = 6.4 × 1023 kg Radius of Mars = 3400 km 2.9 × 106 J kg–1 A
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q24 (1 mark): The graph shows the variation of gravitational potential with radial distance r from the centre of the planet Mercury. r / km 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 350
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by the term gravitational potential. [1]
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why gravitational potential is always a negative quantity. [2]
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(b) (3 marks): The gravitational potential at the surface of the Earth is about –6.3 × 107 J kg–1. Write down the minimum initial kinetic energy required for a 1 kg body to es
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q1(c) (4 marks): The Voyager 1 spacecraft was launched in 1977. It has travelled further into space than any other human-made device. In May 2019 it was more than 2.2 × 1013 m f
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q16 (1 mark): At which point is the gravitational field strongest? Your answer [1]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q17 (1 mark): Which point is the gravitational neutral point (gtotal = 0)? Your answer [1]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): Mplanet 18 From evidence on the diagram, which is the best estimate for ? mmoon 1 A 5 1 B 2 C 1 D 5 Your answer [1]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q20 (1 mark): Which feature represents a change of gravitational potential ΔVg between two points? Your answer [1]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q21 (1 mark): Which feature represents the magnitude of the gravitational field g at a point? Your answer [1]
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q6(a)(i) (3 marks): The mass of the satellite is 2300 kg. Use the graph to show that the change in gravitational potential energy of the satellite between its launch and its positi
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (3 marks): Use the value for the change in potential energy from (a)(i) to show that the mass of the Earth is about 6 × 1024 kg. [3]
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the force on the satellite when orbiting at a height of 825 km above the Earth’s surface. force = N [2]
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the time taken for one orbit of the satellite. time = s [3]
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q6(c) (3 marks): The satellite takes a polar orbit, revolving around the Earth from pole to pole, as shown in Fig. 6.2. Geostationary satellites orbit at a greater distance from
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q38(a) (6 marks): This question is about the orbits of two comets A and B around the Sun. Fig. 38.1 shows that comet A is in a circular orbit and comet B is in an elliptical orbi
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q38(b)(ii) (3 marks): The orbital period of S1 is 33 years. Show that the mass of the black hole is about 4 million times the mass of the Sun. Mass of the Sun ≈ 2.0 × 1030 kg. [3]
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q38(b)(iii) (1 mark): Star S2 is in an elliptical orbit around the black hole. The closest approach of S2 to the central mass is 6.5 × 1012 m. The Schwarzschild radius RS of a massiv
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q8(a) (2 marks): Use the value of G and data from the article (lines 56–62) to show that the radius of Mars is about 3.4 × 106 m. [2]
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q8(b) (6 marks): This question is about Martian meteorites (lines 43–47). (b)* Calculate the gravitational potential at the surface of Mars and use this value to estimate the en
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q11(a) (5 marks): Calculate the centripetal force required to keep a 1000 kg ‘shield’ in orbit around the Sun at the L1 point with an orbital period the same as the orbital perio
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q11(b) (1 mark): Suggest why the shield may not remain at the L1 point even though the net force from Mars and the Sun is equal to the centripetal force required. [1]
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q26 (1 mark): If P is the gravitational neutral point between the stars, which ratio is correct for x : y ? A 1 : 4 B 1 : 2 C 2 : 1 D 4 : 1 Your answer [1]
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q27 (1 mark): If P is the centre of mass of the two stars, which ratio is correct for x : y ? A 1 : 4 B 1 : 2 C 2 : 1 D 4 : 1 Your answer [1]
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q28 (1 mark): If P is the point where the gravitational potentials of the two stars are equal, which ratio is correct for x : y ? A 1 : 4 B 1 : 2 C 2 : 1 D 4 : 1 Your answer
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q9(c) (4 marks): Use the data below to show that the Juno probe has sufficient energy per kg to move from 1 AU to 5.2 AU after its gravitational slingshot (see lines 58 – 60 in
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q17 (1 mark): Which of the following is correct? A As the planet leaves X it is speeding up. B As the planet approaches X it is slowing down. C As the planet approaches Y it
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): Which of the following quantities is greater at Y than at X? A the gravitational force on the planet from the sun B the gravitational potential energy of the pl
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q36(a) (2 marks): Explain why we describe the Moon as accelerating towards the Earth. [2]
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q36(b)(i) (1 mark): Starting from the equation for circular motion show that the acceleration of the Moon 2 4 R r towards the Earth is given by a = 2 T where the Moon’s orbital rad
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q36(b)(ii) (1 mark): Show that the Moon’s acceleration is less than 3 mm s–2. 8 6 R 3 84 . 10 m T 2 35 . 10 s = = # # [1]
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q36(b)(iii) (3 marks): The Moon’s orbital radius R 60 R . = # E arth The gravitational acceleration at the Earth’s surface g = 9.8 m s–2. Calculate the acceleration due to the Earth’s
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