Flashcards - Topic 8 Astrophysics - Edexcel Physics IGCSE

Edexcel IGCSE Physics
8 - Astronomy
Flashcards
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Why does your weight vary across
planets?
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Why does your weight vary across planets?
● Your weight is dependant on g, since
weight = mass x g
● The gravitational field strength (g) of a planet
varies depending on the radius and mass of the
planet
● This means that your weight will also vary
What does our solar system consist of?
What does our solar system consist of?
● The sun (our star)
● 8 Planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune)
● The planet’s natural satellites (ie. the moon)
● Dwarf planets
● Comets and asteroids
Describe the orbits of moons, planets,
comets and artificial satellites.
Describe the orbits of moons, planets, comets and
artificial satellites.
·Planets follow a (approximately) circular orbit around the
Sun.
·Satellites including moons follow a (approximately) circular
orbit around planets.
·Comets follow elliptical orbits around the Sun.
Which force is makes astronomical objects
follow orbits?
Which force is makes astronomical objects follow
orbits?
Gravitational force pulls the objects

causing them to follow orbits around
massive objects.
Which astronomical object forms from the
collection of billions of stars?
Which astronomical object forms from the collection
of billions of stars?
A Galaxy
What is the name of the galaxy that
contains our solar system?
What is the name of the galaxy that contains our
solar system?
Milky Way galaxy
What is the large collection of billions of
galaxies called?
What is the large collection of billions of galaxies
called?
The Universe
State an equation linking orbital speed, orbital
radius and time period.
State an equation linking orbital speed, orbital radius
and time period.
Stars can be classified according to colour.
Order the given colours of stars from coldest to
hottest
● Yellow
● Blue
● Red
● White
● Orange
Stars can be classified according to colour.
Order the given colours of stars from coldest to
hottest
Red Orange Yellow White Blue

Cold Hot
*think frequencies of EM waves. Blue has higher frequency that red so blue is more energetic
Name each stage the sun has gone/ will
go through in its lifetime in order.
Name each stage the sun has gone/ will go through
in its lifetime in order
1. Nebula
2. Main sequence star
3. Red giant
4. White dwarf
Which stage is the Sun currently in?
Which stage is the Sun currently in?
Main sequence
What is a nebula?
What is a nebula?
A cloud of gas and dust.
Describe the transition of the star from
the nebula stage to the main sequence.
Describe the transition of the star from the nebula
stage to the main sequence.
● The nebula increases in size until it is pulled in due to its
gravity,causing GPE to turn into KE of molecules
● As it gets smaller, particles move faster and collide harder
so temperature increases.
● Eventually the nebula will become dense and hot enough
to begin fusion
What occurs in the stage when a star is
a main sequence star?
What occurs in the stage when a star is a main
sequence star?
● The fusion in the star releases energy
● During fusion, main sequence stars mostly turn hydrogen into
helium.
● Thermal energy released from fusion causes an outward
pressure which balances the inward pressure caused by gravity
● The star is in equilibrium so will not collapse due to gravity or
expand due to fusion. It is stable.
What happens when a star transitions to
the red giant stage?
What happens when a star transitions to the red
giant stage?
● Once all of the hydrogen fuel has been used
up, the star begins to fuse helium and other
larger nuclei
● This causes the star to expand and become a
red giant
How does a star become a white dwarf
from a red giant?
How does a star become a white dwarf from a red
giant?
● Once all reactions have taken place, the star’s
gravity pulls in all of its mass, making a small,
dense white dwarf
● This will cool down to form a black dwarf
What stages occur for the evolution of
stars that have a mass which is larger
than the sun?
What stages occur for the evolution of stars that
have a mass which is larger than the sun?
- Nebula
- Main sequence star
- Red supergiant star
- Supernova
- Black hole/ neutron star
What is supernova?
What is supernova?
After the red supergiant stage the star will

expand and get hotter, eventually it will explode
as a supernova. What is left turns into a neutron
star (or a black hole if it is very large).

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Edexcel IGCSE Physics

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Gravitational force pulls the objects

Milky Way galaxy

Red Orange Yellow White Blue

A cloud of gas and dust.

After the red supergiant stage the star will

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