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11th grade space

11th grade (Year 12 in England) · 16 questions · Common Core: NGSS.HS-ESS1-2, NGSS.HS-ESS1-4, NGSS.HS-PS2-4 · England: KS4 Physics: Space physics (separate science), GCSE Physics: Space physics (orbital motion)

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  1. Question 1

    A satellite moves at a steady speed in a circular orbit. Why is it accelerating?

    • A. It is not accelerating
    • B. Its speed increases every orbit
    • C. Its engines are always on
    • D. Its direction is always changing, so its velocity changes

  2. Question 2

    The International Space Station orbits at a radius of about 6780 km from Earth's centre, taking 92 minutes per orbit. What is its orbital speed, in km/s? (v = 2πr ÷ T; give 1 decimal place)

    Answerkm/s

  3. Question 3

    Orbits: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth.
    • B. Gravity provides the force that keeps planets and satellites in orbit.
    • C. Astronauts on the ISS feel weightless because they are in free fall around Earth.
    • D. There is no gravity at the height of the ISS.

  4. Question 4

    More distant galaxies show greater red-shift. What does this suggest?

    • A. The universe is expanding
    • B. Light slows down over time
    • C. Galaxies are standing still
    • D. The universe is shrinking

  5. Question 5

    The Big Bang: which statement is true?

    • A. The Earth is the centre of the universe.
    • B. The universe is about 13.8 billion years old.
    • C. The Big Bang was an explosion at one point in an existing empty space.
    • D. Red-shift means galaxies are moving towards us.

  6. Question 6

    A spectral line normally at 500 nm is observed at 550 nm in light from a galaxy. By how many nanometres has it been red-shifted?

    Answernm

  7. Question 7

    The Moon takes about 27 days to orbit Earth, but the ISS takes about 90 minutes. Why the difference?

    • A. The ISS orbits much closer, so it must move faster around a much shorter path
    • B. The ISS has no mass
    • C. The Moon orbits a different planet
    • D. The Moon is pushed by the Sun

  8. Question 8

    A geostationary satellite orbits at a radius of about 42160 km from Earth's centre, taking 1436 minutes per orbit. What is its orbital speed, in km/s? (v = 2πr ÷ T; give 1 decimal place)

    Answerkm/s

  9. Question 9

    Orbits: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Astronauts on the ISS feel weightless because they are in free fall around Earth.
    • B. Satellites need their engines on all the time to stay in orbit.
    • C. Gravity provides the force that keeps planets and satellites in orbit.
    • D. The force on an orbiting object points towards the centre of the orbit.

  10. Question 10

    What is the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB)?

    • A. leftover radiation from the early universe, seen in every direction
    • B. light from the Moon
    • C. signals from mobile phones
    • D. heat from the Sun

  11. Question 11

    The Big Bang: which statement is true?

    • A. Red-shift is evidence that the universe is expanding.
    • B. The Big Bang was an explosion at one point in an existing empty space.
    • C. Red-shift means galaxies are moving towards us.
    • D. The Earth is the centre of the universe.

  12. Question 12

    A spectral line normally at 500 nm is observed at 505 nm in light from a galaxy. By how many nanometres has it been red-shifted?

    Answernm

  13. Question 13

    How does orbital speed change for a smaller (lower) stable orbit?

    • A. It must move faster
    • B. Speed does not depend on radius
    • C. It must move slower
    • D. It stops

  14. Question 14

    A GPS satellite orbits at a radius of about 26560 km from Earth's centre, taking 718 minutes per orbit. What is its orbital speed, in km/s? (v = 2πr ÷ T; give 1 decimal place)

    Answerkm/s

  15. Question 15

    Orbits: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Astronauts on the ISS feel weightless because they are in free fall around Earth.
    • B. Satellites need their engines on all the time to stay in orbit.
    • C. Gravity provides the force that keeps planets and satellites in orbit.
    • D. The force on an orbiting object points towards the centre of the orbit.

  16. Question 16

    What is red-shift?

    • A. galaxies turning red because they are hot
    • B. light becoming bluer
    • C. the Sun setting
    • D. light from distant galaxies is stretched to longer wavelengths

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Answer key: 11th grade space

  1. 1. D. Its direction is always changing, so its velocity changes

  2. 2. 7.7 km/s

  3. 3. D. There is no gravity at the height of the ISS.

  4. 4. A. The universe is expanding

  5. 5. B. The universe is about 13.8 billion years old.

  6. 6. 50 nm

  7. 7. A. The ISS orbits much closer, so it must move faster around a much shorter path

  8. 8. 3.1 km/s

  9. 9. B. Satellites need their engines on all the time to stay in orbit.

  10. 10. A. leftover radiation from the early universe, seen in every direction

  11. 11. A. Red-shift is evidence that the universe is expanding.

  12. 12. 5 nm

  13. 13. A. It must move faster

  14. 14. 3.9 km/s

  15. 15. B. Satellites need their engines on all the time to stay in orbit.

  16. 16. D. light from distant galaxies is stretched to longer wavelengths