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GCSE level questions on the Earth in Space

Q13.

(a) The light from distant galaxies shows red-shift.

Complete the sentence: The term red-shift describes the observed increase in the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of the light from a distant galaxy.

[1 mark]

(b) The Big Bang theory is one model used to explain the origin of the universe. How does the Big Bang theory describe the universe when it began?

[1 mark]

(c) The graph below shows data scientists have calculated from measurements of red-shift.

(i) Describe the relationship between the speed of a galaxy and the distance the galaxy is from the Earth.

[1 mark]

(ii) Tick the one of the following. Choose the one that is the same as 6 x 1012 terametres?

6 × 1015 m
 
6 × 1018 m
 
6 × 1021 m
  
6 × 1024 m
  

[1 mark]

(iii) Explain how the data in the sketch-graph supports the suggestion that the universe began from a very small region.

[2 marks]

(d) The Big Bang theory suggested that gravity would slow the rate at which galaxies move away from the Earth.

(i) New observations suggest that distant galaxies are moving away from the Earth at an increasingly fast rate.

What do the new observations suggest is happening to the universe?

[1 mark]

(ii) New observations and data that do not fit existing theories should undergo peer review. Give one reason why peer review is an important process.

[1 mark]

(e) The Andromeda galaxy is moving towards the Earth.

Describe how the wavelength and frequency of the light from Andromeda seem to have changed when viewed from the Earth.

[2 marks]

(Total 10 marks)