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GCSE level questions on the Earth in Space

Q14.

(a) Most galaxies are moving away from the Earth. Scientists can determine the speed of a galaxy by observing the light from the galaxy.

Complete the following sentence by choosing a word from the box.

When scientists observe the light from distant galaxies, they observe an increase in the

wavelength of light from those galaxies.

frequency
speed
wavelength

[1 mark]

(b) The light spectra from stars and galaxies include dark lines.

The lines have the same pattern.

The diagram shows the light spectrum from the Sun and from four galaxies.

(i) Which of these galaxies is moving the fastest away from the Earth?

C

It has the greatest 'red shift' therefore is furthest away and moving away at the fastest rate.

[1 mark]

(ii) Which of these galaxies is the furthest away from the Earth?

C

[1 mark]

(c) The Big Bang theory is one way to explain the origin of the universe.

(i) How does the Big Bang theory describe the universe when it began? (Tick one box)

Very big and very dense
 
Very big and extremely hot
 
Very dense and extremely hot
Very small and extremely cold
  

[1 mark]

(ii) Which of the following statements about the Big Bang theory is correct? (Tick one box)

Scientists have proved that the theory is correct.  
Scientific evidence supports the theory.
There is no other way to explain the origin of the universe.  

[1 mark]

(d) The sketch graphs show three ways that the size of the universe may have changed with time.

Which graph would the Big Bang theory suggest is correct? Explain your choice.

[2 marks]

Z because it is the only one that shows the universe is expanding OR it is the only one that shows the universe began very small.

(Total 7 marks)