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Using radiation to investigate stars: WJEC A‑Level Physics questions

Every WJEC A-Level Physics exam question on 1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,173 questions

  1. Q7(e)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    4 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 7(e): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph Are Cepheid variables giant stars or giant musical instruments? Stars called Cepheid variables vary in b

  2. Q7(f)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    1 mark1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 7(f): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph Are Cepheid variables giant stars or giant musical instruments? Stars called Cepheid variables vary in b

  3. Q7(g)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    3 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 7(g): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph Are Cepheid variables giant stars or giant musical instruments? Stars called Cepheid variables vary in b

  4. Q7(a)

    Summer 2025 · AS Unit 1

    2 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 AS Unit 1, question 7(a): The Sun’s surface temperature is 5800 K. Calculate the wavelength of peak spectral intensity for the Sun. [2]

  5. Q7(b)(i)

    Summer 2025 · AS Unit 1

    1 mark1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 AS Unit 1, question 7(b)(i): Determine the luminosity of the Sun at 10 billion years of age. [1]

  6. Q7(b)(ii)

    Summer 2025 · AS Unit 1

    2 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 AS Unit 1, question 7(b)(ii): Calculate the surface area of the Sun at 10 billion years of age. [2]

  7. Q7(b)(iii)

    Summer 2025 · AS Unit 1

    3 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 AS Unit 1, question 7(b)(iii): The graph indicates that the surface temperature at 10 billion years of age will only be slightly less than its current value. Using a suitable calculation, sho

  8. Q7(c)

    Summer 2025 · AS Unit 1

    3 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 AS Unit 1, question 7(c): The answer to (b)(iii) indicates that there will be little change to the colour of the Sun until it is about 10 billion years old. An astronomer makes the follo

  9. Q7(a)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 1

    2 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 1, question 7(a): Explain what is meant by the term ‘multiwavelength astronomy’. [2]

  10. Q7(c)(i)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 1

    2 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 1, question 7(c)(i): Calculate the star’s temperature. [2]

  11. Q7(c)(ii)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 1

    1 mark1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 1, question 7(c)(ii): The visible spectrum extends from approximately 400 nm to 700 nm. State the colour of Arcturus. [1]

  12. Q7(d)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 1

    5 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 1, question 7(d): A website claims that Arcturus is about 37 light years from the Sun. Use the following information and your answer to (c)(i) to justify this claim. [5] Diameter

  13. Q7(a)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    4 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 7(a): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph A summary of binary stars First of all, we call two stars orbiting their common centre of mass a “binary

  14. Q7(b)(iii)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    4 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 7(b)(iii): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph A summary of binary stars First of all, we call two stars orbiting their common centre of mass a “binary

  15. Q7(c)(i)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    3 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 7(c)(i): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph A summary of binary stars First of all, we call two stars orbiting their common centre of mass a “binary

  16. Q7(c)(ii)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    2 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 7(c)(ii): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph A summary of binary stars First of all, we call two stars orbiting their common centre of mass a “binary

  17. Q7(e)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    2 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 7(e): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph A summary of binary stars First of all, we call two stars orbiting their common centre of mass a “binary

  18. Q8(a)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 1

    2 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 1, question 8(a): The solar spectrum includes an absorption spectrum. Describe the appearance of this spectrum and state where in the Sun the absorption occurs. [2]

  19. Q8(b)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 1

    3 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 1, question 8(b): The graph shows how, outside the Sun, the intensity of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun varies with the distance from its centre. Intensity / kWm–2 4 3 2

  20. Q8(c)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 1

    4 marks1.6 Using radiation to investigate stars
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 1, question 8(c): The diagram below shows how the intensity of the radiation incident on the Earth from the Sun is distributed across the spectrum. Spectral intensity / arbitrary
All 42 questions on Using radiation to investigate stars, as a list
  1. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q7(e) (4 marks): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph Are Cepheid variables giant stars or giant musical instruments? Stars called Cepheid variables vary in b
  2. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q7(f) (1 mark): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph Are Cepheid variables giant stars or giant musical instruments? Stars called Cepheid variables vary in b
  3. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q7(g) (3 marks): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph Are Cepheid variables giant stars or giant musical instruments? Stars called Cepheid variables vary in b
  4. Summer 2025, AS Unit 1, Q7(a) (2 marks): The Sun’s surface temperature is 5800 K. Calculate the wavelength of peak spectral intensity for the Sun. [2]
  5. Summer 2025, AS Unit 1, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Determine the luminosity of the Sun at 10 billion years of age. [1]
  6. Summer 2025, AS Unit 1, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the surface area of the Sun at 10 billion years of age. [2]
  7. Summer 2025, AS Unit 1, Q7(b)(iii) (3 marks): The graph indicates that the surface temperature at 10 billion years of age will only be slightly less than its current value. Using a suitable calculation, sho
  8. Summer 2025, AS Unit 1, Q7(c) (3 marks): The answer to (b)(iii) indicates that there will be little change to the colour of the Sun until it is about 10 billion years old. An astronomer makes the follo
  9. Summer 2024, AS Unit 1, Q7(a) (2 marks): Explain what is meant by the term ‘multiwavelength astronomy’. [2]
  10. Summer 2024, AS Unit 1, Q7(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the star’s temperature. [2]
  11. Summer 2024, AS Unit 1, Q7(c)(ii) (1 mark): The visible spectrum extends from approximately 400 nm to 700 nm. State the colour of Arcturus. [1]
  12. Summer 2024, AS Unit 1, Q7(d) (5 marks): A website claims that Arcturus is about 37 light years from the Sun. Use the following information and your answer to (c)(i) to justify this claim. [5] Diameter
  13. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q7(a) (4 marks): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph A summary of binary stars First of all, we call two stars orbiting their common centre of mass a “binary
  14. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q7(b)(iii) (4 marks): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph A summary of binary stars First of all, we call two stars orbiting their common centre of mass a “binary
  15. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q7(c)(i) (3 marks): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph A summary of binary stars First of all, we call two stars orbiting their common centre of mass a “binary
  16. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph A summary of binary stars First of all, we call two stars orbiting their common centre of mass a “binary
  17. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q7(e) (2 marks): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph A summary of binary stars First of all, we call two stars orbiting their common centre of mass a “binary
  18. Summer 2023, AS Unit 1, Q8(a) (2 marks): The solar spectrum includes an absorption spectrum. Describe the appearance of this spectrum and state where in the Sun the absorption occurs. [2]
  19. Summer 2023, AS Unit 1, Q8(b) (3 marks): The graph shows how, outside the Sun, the intensity of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun varies with the distance from its centre. Intensity / kWm–2 4 3 2
  20. Summer 2023, AS Unit 1, Q8(c) (4 marks): The diagram below shows how the intensity of the radiation incident on the Earth from the Sun is distributed across the spectrum. Spectral intensity / arbitrary
  21. Summer 2022, AS Unit 1, Q7(a) (1 mark): Stars are very good approximations of black bodies. Explain what is meant by the term black body. [1]
  22. Summer 2022, AS Unit 1, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): Confirm that the graph shows an inverse square relationship between I and d. [2]
  23. Summer 2022, AS Unit 1, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Show that the Sun’s luminosity is approximately 4 × 1026 W. [2]
  24. Summer 2022, AS Unit 1, Q7(c) (4 marks): The graph shows how the intensity of the radiation incident on the Earth from the Sun is distributed across the spectrum. Spectral intensity 100 300 500 700 900
  25. Summer 2019, AS Unit 1, Q7(a) (2 marks): Describe the main features of the spectrum of a star and state where in the star they arise. [2]
  26. Summer 2019, AS Unit 1, Q7(b)(i) (3 marks): Determine the ratio: Intensity of radiation reaching Earth from Sirius [3] Intensity of radiation reaching Earth from Vega
  27. Summer 2019, AS Unit 1, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): The two stars have similar surface temperatures. Below is a black body radiation curve for Sirius. Using your answer to (b)(i), sketch the expected black body c
  28. Summer 2019, AS Unit 1, Q7(b)(iii) (4 marks): [4]
  29. Summer 2019, AS Unit 1, Q7(c) (3 marks): The image below is of the whirlpool galaxy, M51 (or NGC 5194). This is one of the first galaxies to be photographed by astronomers. Optical 450-750 nm 6,000 K S
  30. Summer 2018, AS Unit 1, Q6(a) (6 marks): A blackbody graph of spectral intensity against wavelength for a star is shown. A magnified section, showing the finer detail of the spectrum is also given. An
  31. Summer 2018, AS Unit 1, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): intensity of its electromagnetic radiation reaching the Earth is 1.32 × 10–8 W m–2. Show that its luminosity is approximately 4 × 1027 W. [3]
  32. Summer 2018, AS Unit 1, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate Altair’s diameter given that its surface temperature is 7 700 K. [3] FOR THE LAST QUESTION
  33. Summer 2017, AS Unit 1, Q4(a) (1 mark): Stars are very good approximations to black bodies. State what is meant by a black body. [1]
  34. Summer 2017, AS Unit 1, Q4(b)(i) (3 marks): Use the graph to state three differences between Polaris and Chi Pegasi. [3]
  35. Summer 2017, AS Unit 1, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): The surface temperature of Polaris is 7 250 K. How does the graph confirm this? [2]
  36. Summer 2017, AS Unit 1, Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): Polaris is 431 light years from Earth and the intensity of radiation received on Earth from it is 4.05 × 10–9 W m–2. Show that the luminosity of Polaris is appr
  37. Summer 2017, AS Unit 1, Q4(b)(iv) (3 marks): Calculate the radius of Polaris. [3]
  38. Summer 2016, AS Unit 1, Q3(a)(i) (3 marks): Confirm that Wien’s displacement law is valid for the stars. [3]
  39. Summer 2016, AS Unit 1, Q3(a)(ii) (2 marks): Astronomers state that one of the stars appears ‘bluer’ than the other. Explain how the spectra support this statement and state which star would appear bluer.
  40. Summer 2016, AS Unit 1, Q3(b)(i) (4 marks): Show that the luminosity of Canopus is approximately 500 times the luminosity of Sirius A. [4]
  41. Summer 2016, AS Unit 1, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the intensity of the radiation reaching the surface of the Earth from Sirius A. (Distance between Sirius A and Earth = 8.15 × 1016 m.) [2]
  42. Summer 2016, AS Unit 1, Q3(b)(iii) (2 marks): The intensity of the radiation reaching the Earth’s surface from Canopus is less than that from Sirius A, even though Canopus has a greater luminosity than Siri

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