IGCSEPhysicsEdexcelTopic Questions8. Astrophysics8.2 Stellar Evolution

Stellar Evolution (Edexcel IGCSE Physics)

Topic Questions

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1a3 marks

The sentence gives information about the life cycle of a star. 

Add words from the box in the gaps to make a sentence that is correct. 

 
electron             supernova             giant             dwarf             momentum            neutron

 

A very dense .................................. star is left behind when a large red .................................. star blows up in an explosion called a ..................................

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1b1 mark

Which of the following statements is a property used to classify stars?

  • Radius

  • Distance from the Earth

  • The times when it is visible to observers on Earth

  • Colour

Choose your answer

1c3 marks

Draw lines between the colour and the temperature to show the correct colour and temperature of the stars. 

 
star-temp-colour-match-sq-edexcel-igcse

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2a2 marks

This paragraph is from a website. 

A star forms when enough dust and gas are pulled together. Masses smaller than a star may also be formed when dust and gas are pulled together.

 

(i)
State the name of the force that pulls the dust and gas together.
 (1)
(ii)
State the name of the mass smaller than a star that may form when the gas and dust are pulled together.
(1)

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2b3 marks

The diagram shows part of the life cycle of a star with a similar mass to the Sun.  

black dwarf          nebula          fusion          white dwarf          main sequence star

Use words from the box to label the stages in the life cycle. 

8-2-2b-e-life-cycle-solar-mass-stars-label-sq-edexcel-igcse

 

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3a1 mark

What is the absolute magnitude of a star a measure of?

  • The brightness of stars if they were the same distance away from the Earth

  • The temperature of stars

  • The density of star clusters

  • The distance the star is away from the Earth

Choose your answer

3b4 marks

The table gives some statements about the absolute magnitude scale. 

Add ticks (✔) to the table to show which four statements are correct.

 
Statement Correct (✔)
The brighter the star the larger the magnitude  
The brighter the star the smaller the magnitude  
The dimmer the star the larger the magnitude  
The brightness of the star depends upon how much light the star emits  
The brightness of the star depends upon the radius of the star  
The brightness of the star depends upon how far away the star is  

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4a3 marks

Describe how stars are formed.

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4b3 marks

Add words from the box in the gaps to make the sentences correct. 

 
decay          balanced          fission          resultant forces          fusion          forces

(i)
Nuclear ...................................... releases energy inside stars. 

(1)

(ii)
A star is stable during the 'main sequence' period in its life because the ...................................... within it are ...................................... . 

(2)

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4c4 marks

The life cycle of a star after the 'main sequence' period depends on the size of the star.  A particular star is much larger in size than the Sun. 

Complete the stages of the life cycle of this star.

 
8-2-4c-e-life-cycle-larger-stars-box-fill-sq-edexcel-igcse
(4)

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5a2 marks

Separate: Physics Only

The Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram is used to classify stars. 

Label the horizontal and vertical axis of the diagram by writing in the boxes.

8-2-5a-e-hr-fill-in-axis-sq-edexcel-igcse

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5b4 marks

The words in the box detail the different classifications of stars. 

 
supergiants            white dwarfs          main sequence stars          giants
 

Identify the correct classification, by writing in the table below, for each of the areas A, B, C and D as shown on the HR diagram.

Area Classification
A  
B  
C  
D  

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5c2 marks

The Sun is labelled on the HR diagram.  

Identify its temperature and luminosity. 

 

luminosity of the Sun = ................... LSun
 
temperature of the Sun = ................... K

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1a8 marks

The table shows the 5 stages of the life cycle of a star that has a similar mass to the Sun. 

Stage 1 Initially, there is a massive cloud of dust and gas in space.
Stage 2  
Stage 3 Hydrogen nuclei join together to make helium nuclei
Stage 4  
Stage 5 The star eventually becomes unstable. An outer layer of dust and gas is ejected leaving behind a core. The core collapses due to gravity.

 

(i)
State and explain what happens in stage 2 of the diagram.

Include specific references to the relationships between
    • the masses of the bodies involved and the forces acting between them
    • the separation of the bodies involved and the forces acting between them

(4)

(ii)
State and explain what happens in stage 4 of the diagram.
(4)

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1b1 mark

The timescale of stage 3 is in the order of

  • 105 to 106 years

  • 106 to 107 years

  • 109 to 1011 years

  • 1012 to 1015 years

Choose your answer

1c2 marks

Explain why the star remains stable during stage 3 for the length of time you selected in part (b).

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1d5 marks

For stars with much larger masses than our Sun, stages 1 to 3 are almost exactly the same as lower mass stars. For the later stages, 4 and 5, the processes begin to differ. 

Compare and contrast the final two stages in stars with much larger masses than our Sun and stars with similar masses to our Sun.

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2a4 marks

The table contains information on the mass of different stars.

Star Name Star Mass / kg
Earth's Sun 1.989 × 1030
Proxima Centauri 2.446 × 1029
VY Canis Majoris 3.381 × 1031

 

(i)
Compare the masses of Proxima Centauri and VY Canis Majoris to the Sun.
(1)
(ii)
Explain how these differences will affect the time these stars can remain stable.

(3)

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2b5 marks

Describe what will happen to each of the stars after they leave the main sequence stage.

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3a2 marks

Separate: Physics Only

A Hertzsprung‑Russell diagram shows how different astronomical objects may be classified according to their colour and absolute magnitude.

8-2-3a-h-hr-diagram-colour-abs-maganitude-sq-igcse

The diagram shows three stages of evolution for stars of similar mass to the Sun.

(i)
Add an S to the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to show the position of the Sun.
(1)
(ii)
Star X has the same surface temperature as the Sun but would be brighter than the Sun if it were the same distance away from Earth as the Sun.
Add an X to the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to show the position of star X. 
(1)
(iii)
Star Y has a hotter surface temperature than the Sun but would be dimmer than the Sun if it were the same distance away from Earth as the Sun.

Add a Y to the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to show the position of star Y.
(1)

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3b6 marks

Describe the evolution of stars of similar mass to the Sun.

You should refer to the temperature and brightness of the stars in your answer.

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4a6 marks

Separate: Physics Only

An amateur astronomer is compiling a list of stars he can see through his telescope along with their temperature, colour, absolute magnitude and brightness relative to our Sun. 

His observations so far are detailed in the table.

Star Surface Temperature (K) Colour

Absolute Magnitude

Brightness relative to the Sun
Betelgeuse 3500 red −5.9 100 000
Aldebaran 3900 orange −0.6 400
Sun 5800 yellow 4.6 1
Canopus 7400 yellow-white −2.5 14 000
Vega 9600 white 0.6 40
Rigel 11 000 blue-white −8.1 120 000
10 Lacertae 36 000 blue −4.4 25 000

 

Present the data on a suitable graph using the grid below.

8-2-4a-h-temp-abs-magnitude-gridlines-blank-sq-igcse

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4b5 marks

Canopus has already passed through the red giant branch after exhausting all of the hydrogen in its core. The rest of the stars listed are either in their main sequence or red giant stages.

(i)
On your graph, identify the following regions:
    • Main sequence
    • Red giants
    • Red supergiants
    • Blue supergiants
(4)
(ii)
Draw an arrow on your graph to show the path Canopus is likely to take in its next evolutionary stage.
(1)

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5a1 mark

Separate: Physics Only

The editor of a science magazine is writing an article on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.

All objects on a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram emit electromagnetic radiation. The editor is particularly interested in objects R and S, as shown in the diagram.

8-2-5a-h-hr-diagram-temperature-luminosity-mcq-igcse

Which of the following statements about object R and object S is correct?

  • R emits radiation with a higher mean frequency than S

  • R emits radiation with a longer mean wavelength than S

  • S and R both emit radiation with the same intensity

  • S emits radiation with a shorter mean wavelength than R

Choose your answer

5b2 marks

Describe the relationship between the colours and values of temperature on the Hertzsprung-Russel diagram.

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5c2 marks

The editor requires more information to complete the article. 

(i)
The Moon is the brightest object in the night sky.

Suggest why the Moon cannot be shown on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
(1)
(ii)
Suggest why black holes are not plotted on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram..
(1)

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5d8 marks

The editor plots the location of the Sun on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.

8-2-5d-h-hr-diagram-temperature-luminosity-with-sun-sq-igcse

He states that object R will eventually move to the same position as object S someday.

(i)
Comment on the validity of the editor's statement.  
(2)
(ii)
The editor wants to compare the evolutionary path of the Sun with the path of object R.

Draw the evolutionary paths of the Sun and object R on the Hertzprung-Russell diagram.
(4)
(iii)
Explain the paths you have drawn in (ii).
(2)

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6a2 marks

Separate: Physics Only

An astronomer is collecting data for stars with a range of spectral classes and wants to plot a graph of spectral class against absolute magnitude to see if any patterns can be identified.

The data the astronomer has collected is shown in the table below.

Star Spectral Class Decimal Class Absolute Magnitude
Sun G2 5.2 4.8
Sirius B A2 3.2 11.2
Proxima Centauri M6   15.6
61 Cygni K5   7.5
Betelgeuse M1   −5.9
Rigel B8   −7.8
Bellatrix B2   −2.8
Vega A0   0.6
Barnard's Star M4   13.2
Procyon B F5   13

Complete the data from the table using the conversion table below.

Spectral Class Decimal Class
O 1 (e.g. 1.1 = O1)
B 2
A 3
F 4
G 5
K 6
M 7

How did you do?

6b6 marks
(i)

On the grid below, plot a graph of absolute magnitude against star class using the data from the table in (a).

(2)
(ii)
On your graph, indicate the following regions:
  • Main sequence
  • Red supergiants
  • Blue supergiants
  • White dwarfs 

(4)

8-2-6b-h-hr-diagram-gridlines-blank-sq-igcse

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1a1 mark

The diagram shows some incomplete notes about a stellar process. An astronomer left the notes to a colleague for them to decipher. 

8-2-1a-m-life-cycle-solar-mass-med-sq-igcse

Identify the process described in the diagram.

How did you do?

1b1 mark

The colleague wants to include some extra detail in stage 3.

Which of the following correctly describes the physical process outlined in stage 3 and the 'smaller nuclei' and 'bigger nuclei' that are mentioned?

 
  physical process smaller nucleus larger nucleus
A nuclear fission hydrogen  helium
B nuclear fusion  helium hydrogen
C nuclear fission helium hydrogen
D nuclear fusion hydrogen helium

Choose your answer

1c1 mark

The longest stage in this process is

  • stage 2

  • stage 3

  • stage 4

  • stage 5

Choose your answer

1d4 marks
(i)
State the name given to the star in stage 4.
(1)
(ii)
Explain what happens in stage 4.
(3)

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2a4 marks

The colour of visible light a star emits tells us how hot or cold it is.

The table contains the colour classifications of the visible light emitted from stars. 

Place a number from 1 − 7 in each box to put them in order from hottest (1) to coldest (7). 

 
Colour Number
Yellow - White  
Blue  
Red  
Yellow  
Yellow - Orange  
White  
Blue - White  

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2b5 marks
(i)
Identify and explain the coolest stage of a star's life cycle.
(2)
(ii)
Identify and explain the final stage and colour in the life cycle of a star similar in size to the Sun.
(3)

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2c2 marks

Explain how stars like the Sun are formed.

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3a1 mark

Separate: Physics Only

What are the properties of luminosity and temperature for a main sequence star? 

  Luminosity Temperature
A low low
B low high
C high low
D high high

Choose your answer

3b1 mark

A Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram is a plot of luminosity against temperature for a range of stars.

8-2-3b-m-hr-diag-q-edexcel-igcse

One group on the H-R diagram is the main sequence.

Once hydrogen fusion has ceased in its core, the Sun (labelled S) will move to a new position on the H-R diagram above.

What is the new position of the Sun?

Choose your answer

3c3 marks

State the letter for the position of a white dwarf on the H-R diagram and describe its temperature and luminosity in relation to the Sun. 

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4a2 marks

Most of the stars in the universe are main sequence stars, including the sun. 

Describe the similarities between main sequence stars.

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4b2 marks

The table gives some statements about the relationship between a star's colour and its surface temperature. 

Add ticks (✔) to the table to show which two statements are correct.

 
Statement Correct (✔)
red stars have a relatively high temperature  
blue stars have a relatively high temperature   
yellow stars have a relatively low temperature  
blue-white stars have a relatively low temperature  

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4c4 marks
The table shows the colour and surface temperature of several known stars.

 

Colour Surface Temperature (K) Example
red < 3500 Betelgeuse
orange 3500 - 5000 Aldebaran
yellow 5000 - 6000 Sun
yellow-white 6000 - 7500 Canopus
white 7500 - 10 000 Vega
blue-white 10 000 - 25 000 Rigel
blue > 25 000 10 Lacertae

 

(i)
Identify a star with a temperature of 7000 K.
(1)
(ii)
Identify a star with a temperature of 2000 K.
(1)
(iii)
State and explain which of the stars you identified is likely to be the largest.
(2)

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5a2 marks

Separate: Physics Only

Define what is meant by the absolute magnitude scale.

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5b3 marks

A selection of celestial objects and some information about their apparent brightness is detailed below. 

 
Object Information
Venus  Venus has a higher absolute magnitude than the Moon
Moon The Moon is the closest object to Earth
Sirius Sirius has an apparent brightness of nearly zero
Faintest star The faintest star that can be seen by the naked eye
Sun The Sun is the brightest star as viewed from Earth
Faintest object The faintest object that can be seen by the naked eye
 

Write each object into the correct place on the apparent brightness scale. 

 
8-2-5c-m-apparent-magnitude-scale-edexcel-igcse

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6a4 marks

Separate: Physics Only

The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is shown below. 

 8-2-6a-m-hr-diagram-labelling-sq-igcse 

Label the axis and complete the missing numbers on the scale.

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6b4 marks

State and describe the type of star each of the letters A, B, C and D represent.

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6c2 marks

Add the following to the diagram.

(i)
A cross (X) to show the position of the Sun.
(1)
(ii)
Draw an arrow on the diagram to show the direction the star labelled (*) would move as it cools down and emits less energy.
(1)

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