5

Aquinas College Physics Module 5.1.
3: Astronomy & Cosmology
Module 5.1.3
Astronomy & Cosmology
5.1.3.A Astronomical distance measurements
Topic Notes
Name:__________
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Aquinas College Physics Module 5.1.3: Astronomy & Cosmology
Important resources for this module:

All prezi presentations, booklets, homeworks and
practical sheets are all available on the departmental
website:
www.aquinasphysics.com/513-our-place-in-
the-universe1.html
www.alevelphysicsonline.com/astrophysics
Excellent video tutorials made by an A level physics teacher for A level physics students.
If you need to go over any concepts again, this is the first place that you should look.
Login Username: physics@aquinas.ac.uk Password: 1234
Free access to the course textbook (via

the departmental website). Follow the
instructions on the website for how to log
in.
www.aquinasphysics.com/kerboodle.html
Challenging questions from GCSE level to Undergraduate physics problems.

If you are hoping for a B, A or A* you must be visiting this site and regularly
practicing the problems. They also run excellent workshops. Look out for these!!
isaacphysics.org/
Multiple-choice practice revision

questions on your phone. Revise on the
bus on the way in to college!!
www.gojimo.com/
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Studentship checklist
Tick the boxes when you have completed each of the tasks to do with this topic:
Have you… 
Completed the notes in this booklet so that all important details are recorded?
Answered all the questions in the main part of this booklet, practising the key skills needed
Watched the videos linked to in each section?
Made further notes from Prezis / videos / other sources in the spaces provided throughout the booklet
Answered all the mastery questions at the back of this booklet?
Completed and marked the homework booklet(s) associated with this topic?
Watched the video explaining all the questions on the homework(s) on this topic and taken detailed notes
of any corrections?
Found extra questions related to this topic to answer (e.g. on IsaacPhysics ; physicsandmathstutor.com ; the
stretch & challenge questions at the front of each physics lab.)?
Made revision resources for this topic (mind-maps / flashcards etc.)?
Found some stretch & challenge questions to practice at the front of the physics lab?
Which are the trickiest parts of this topic that you will focus your revision on when it comes to exam time?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Two-Year Course Overview

w.b. Lower 6 Upper 6
Homework Pack Homework Pack
09-Sep Induction, Maths Skills & Vectors September Mock
16-Sep 4.2.A 5.1.3.B
5.1.3 Astrophysics
23-Sep 4.2.B
30-Sep 4.2 Motion & Mechanics 4.2.C 5.1.2.A
5.1.2 Circular Motion & Gravitational
07-Oct
Fields
14-Oct 4.2.D 5.1.2.B
October Half Term October Half Term
28-Oct 4.2.E 6.1.2.A
6.1.2 Electric & Magnetic Fields ;
04-Nov 4.2 Motion & Mechanics 4.2.F 6.1.2.B
Particle Accelerators
11-Nov 4.2.G 6.1.2.C
18-Nov 3.2.A 6.2.1.A
25-Nov 3.2.B 6.2.1 Particle Physics 6.2.1.B
3.2 Materials
02-Dec 3.2.C 6.2.1.C
09-Dec 5.2.1.A
5.2.1 Heat Energy & Ideal Gases
16-Dec 3.1.2 Electricity 3.1.2.A 5.2.1.B
Christmas Holidays Christmas Holidays
06-Jan 3.1.2.B 5.2.2 Boltzmann Factor 5.2.1.

13-Jan 3.1.2.C 5.1.1.A
3.1.2 Electricity 5.1.1 Modelling (Radioactivity,
20-Jan 3.1.2.D 5.1.1.B
Capacitors & Oscillations)
27-Jan 3.1.2.E
03-Feb Mock Exam 3.1.2.E Mock Exam
10-Feb 4.1 Waves 4.1.A 5.1.1 Modelling 5.1.1.C
February Half Term February Half Term
24-Feb 4.1.B 6.1.1.A
02-Mar 4.1.C 6.1.1. Electromagnetism 6.1.1.B
4.1 Waves
09-Mar 4.1.D 6.1.1.C
16-Mar 4.1.E 6.2.2.A
23-Mar 6.2.2. Nuclear Physics 6.2.2.B
4.1 Quantum Physics
30-Mar 4.1.F 6.2.2.C
Easter Holidays Easter Holidays
20-Apr Revision & Mock Exam

4.1 Quantum Physics
27-Apr 4.1.G Revision
04-May 3.1.1.A Mock Exam
11-May 3.1.1 Imaging & Signalling Revision
18-May 3.1.1.B Exams Start
May Half Term May Half Term
01-Jun 3.1.1.C
3.1.1 Imaging & Signalling
08-Jun 3.1.1.D
15-Jun 5.1.3 Astrophysics 5.1.3.A
22-Jun End of Year Exam
29-Jul Work Experience Week
06-Jul 5.1.3 Astrophysics
Summer Holidays Summer Holidays
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Contents
Studentship checklist .................................................................................................................................. - 3 -
Contents ....................................................................................................................................................... - 5 -
Learning Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... - 6 -
1. Measuring distances to nearby objects .............................................................................................. - 8 -
Using radar to measure distances ......................................................................................................................... - 8 -
Worldlines ............................................................................................................................................................. - 10 -
Space for your own notes ................................................................................................................................... - 11 -
Using radar to measure velocities ....................................................................................................................... - 12 -
Method 1: Using two distance measurements................................................................................................... - 12 -
Method 2: Using the Doppler Effect ................................................................................................................. - 13 -
Some practice questions on the Doppler Shift equation .................................................................................... - 13 -
An example exam question on radar measurements & world lines (June 2010 q11) ........................................ - 16 -
2. Measuring the distance to nearby stars: the parallax method ...................................................... - 18 -
Limitations of the Stellar Parallax...................................................................................................................... - 20 -
Space for your own notes ................................................................................................................................... - 20 -
3. Astronomical distance units.............................................................................................................. - 21 -
4. Measuring to more distant sources: standard candles ................................................................... - 22 -
Light intensity and the inverse square law ........................................................................................................ - 22 -
Some questions on the inverse-square law of light ............................................................................................ - 24 -
Some examples of standard candles often used in astronomy ......................................................................... - 25 -
Cepheid variables ............................................................................................................................................... - 25 -
(Type 1A) Supernovae ....................................................................................................................................... - 26 -
5. Mastery questions .............................................................................................................................. - 27 -
6. Space for your own notes .................................................................................................................. - 33 -
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Learning Outcomes
You can be expected to be examined on your ability to…
5.1.3
(a) Describe and explain
the use of radar-type measurements to determine distances within the solar system; how
(i) distance is measured and defined in units of time, assuming the relativistic principle of the
invariance of the speed of light.
(iii) the measurement of relative velocities by radar observation.

(c) Make calculations and estimates of:
(i) distance and ages of astronomical objects
(ii) distances and relative velocities from radar-type measurements
Definitions / explanations you are expected to learn are given

stippled boxes for you to write them in
Equations you are expected to be able to use are given double

lined boxes.
Online learning checks and assignments are linked to in double

lined boxes
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These notes act to complement the Prezi presentations 5.1.3.A found on the departmental website
(www.aquinasphysics.com). Please see the QR codes and urls below to access the relevant presentations.
5.1.3.A Astronomical distance measurements
goo.gl/QfktSj
In this unit we will look at a number of issues regarding our observations of deep space: what are the observations that
we need to make when investigating the distance to far-away objects, and how do we track the motion of objects such
as meteorites as they transit close to the earth?
In particular, our exam board are interested in us having an appreciation of the huge vastness of scales that we encounter
when considering astronomical and cosmological distances. You will need to be able to think of distances not in terms
of metres, but in terms of light years or other measurements such as astronomical units or even Parsecs.
We also look at some of the methods that we use to establish how far away distant objects are at a range of scales: from
relatively nearby objects such as meteorites and satellites to objects in distant galaxies.
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1. Measuring distances to nearby objects

In this topic we are going to look at a range of scales. We will start off by considering how scientists are able to determine
the distance to nearby – in astronomical terms – objects such as satellites and meteorites whose path takes them relatively
close to Earth. When undertaking these types of investigation we use RADAR measurements to find both the distance
and relative speed of an object.
More information on how RADAR works can be found in the video at goo.gl/szUHm7 (see QR code right).
Using radar to measure distances

Answer the questions in the space below to give a brief account of how RADAR can be used to measure the distance
to nearby objects.
1) State what each of the letters in the acronym RADAR stands for:
RA D A R
2) What type of signal is emitted and received when object distances are found using RADAR?
3) Critique the statement below:

“We can find the distance to a nearby object by using a RADAR pulse and
measuring the time difference between the emitted and received RADAR waves”
4) Give a brief explanation of how distances to nearby objects can be found using RADAR techniques.
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5) A radar measurement of the distance to the moon gives a round trip time of 2.57 s. Calculate how far away the
moon is.
6) A diagram may help you to answer this question. Earth has a radius of orbit of 1.496 × 1011 m. Venus has a
radius of orbit of 1.082 × 1011 m. Based on this information alone, what would you expect to be:
(a) the minimum round trip travel time for radio wave pulses reflected from Venus?
(b) the maximum round trip travel time for radio wave pulses reflected from Venus?
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Worldlines
The situations we have considered so far when using radar to find the distance to nearby objects have largely focused
on objects that we assume to be stationary relative to Earth. In reality, of course, objects in space are moving relative to
the Earth, some of them at truly enormous speeds.
In the next section we will look at a couple of different methods we can use to establish an object’s velocity relative to
Earth. First however, we are going to consider a method for tracking the motion of an object that we are trying to either
communicate with or transmit and receive radar signals to and from.
For any moving object, we can plot its journey through space relative to us by using something called a WORLDLINE.
A worldline is simply line plotted onto a SPACE-TIME DIAGRAM: a graph showing how an object’s displacement
varies with time. Notable features of a space-time diagrams and worldliness include:
 Time is always plotted on the y-axis

 Displacement is always plotted on the x-axis.
 Displacement is always given in units such as light years, light minutes, light seconds, light nano-seconds…
etc.
 If the displacement units are light years, the time units will be years; if the displacement units are light minutes;
the time units will be minutes etc.
Complete the table below to help explain what is meant by the displacement units mentioned above.
displacement unit calculation to convert into metres value in metres
light year
light minute
light second
light nano-second
The usefulness of worldlines in answering rather complicated questions that would otherwise require the use of
simultaneous equations is perhaps best illustrated with an example question.
Consider the scenario below.
A spacecraft leaves Earth and travels at a speed of

1.5×108 m s-1 away from it on a top secret
interstellar mission.
Two years after the spacecraft takes off, a radio
pulse is sent from Earth to communicate a message
to the craft, telling it to turn around and return to
Earth immediately.
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Annotate the world line axes on the facing page and answer the questions below:
(a) How long does it take for the radio signal to reach the rocket?
(b) If the spacecraft sends a signal back to earth confirming that it has received the instructions and will be
returning, how long after sending the initial radio pulse do researchers on Earth have to wait to receive this
confirmation?
(c) How long in total is the secret mission?
(d) How far has the spacecraft travelled in total?
(e) Explain why the line drawn for the beam of light is always at 45o on the world line axes
Space for your own notes

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Using radar to measure velocities

Method 1: Using two distance measurements
Explain how scientists are able to use two radar distance measurements to find the velocity of, for example, an incoming
asteroid. Use bullet points to structure your answer logically.
v =
Complete the equation giving the velocity component, v, in terms of the two
distance measurements, d1 and d2, and the time between the measurements
being taken, t.
Explain why the actual velocity of the object will likely be different to the velocity measured.
(1) A pulse of radio waves from Earth was aimed at an asteroid. The time interval between the pulse leaving the
transmitter and the detection of the reflected pulse was 40.2 s. What is the distance to the asteroid? State any
assumption that you make.
distance = …………………. m
Assumption:
(2) The measurement was repeated 14 minutes later. The time interval was then 40.0 s. Calculate the average
relative velocity of approach of the asteroid at the time of the measurements.
relative velocity = …………………. m s-1
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Method 2: Using the Doppler Effect

An alternative method in which radar measures the speed of a moving object uses the Doppler Effect.
A useful video giving an explanation for the Doppler Effect is offered by
www.alevelphysicsonline.com (goo.gl/RvCKZT ; see QR code left) and also from Alt Shift X
(goo.gl/n83QQv ; see QR code right).
Complete the passage below to explain how the Doppler Effect works:
When the source of a wave is moving relative to an observer, an apparent shift in wavelength
and frequency occurs:
 If the source is moving towards the observer, the frequency appears to ………………… and
the wavelength appears to …………………
 If the source is moving away from the observer, the frequency appears to ……………………
and the wavelength appears to …………………
The above is a description of how we would expect wave properties to change with different directions of relative
motion between the source and observer.
In the space below, give a more specific definition of what is meant by the DOPPLER EFFECT
The Doppler Effect is…
The apparent change in frequency or wavelength (f or , respectively) depends on the velocity of the source relative
to the observer, v, and the speed
of light c. This relative shift in
frequency f or wavelength 
gives a dimensionless quantity
known as z – the Doppler Shift
coefficient. State the equation
linking all these factors in the
box right.
z= = =
Some practice questions on the Doppler Shift equation
(1) A car whose engine emits a sound with a frequency of 8000 Hz is travelling towards you at 40 m s -1. What is the
apparent frequency of the sound that you hear?
(speed of sound in air = 340 m s-1)
frequency received = …………………. Hz
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(2) (a) A traffic camera compares the frequency of emitted and reflected microwaves to find out the speed of cars.
If a signal of 100 MHz reflects off a car travelling away from the camera at 25 m s-1, how much has the frequency
changed?
f = …………………. Hz
(b) Once you have checked your answer is correct, explain why you got the value that you did. For reflected
signal, what would we expect the equation to be linking the object velocity v and wave velocity c to the emitted
frequency f and the change in frequency f of the received signal?
Explanation: Modified equation:
 =
(3) An asteroid is discovered flying

through space in the vicinity of
Earth. Astronomers use a radar
method and compare the emitted and
received signals to find out more
about the asteroid and its trajectory.
The original signal was emitted at a
frequency of 2.50 GHz.
The returned signal shows a periodic
variation in the received frequency,
with an average change in frequency
f of 5000 Hz above the emitted
signal, as shown in the graph right.
(a) Use the equation from Q(2)
above to find the relative velocity of the asteroid.
relative velocity = …………………. m s-1
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(b) What is the time period of the asteroid?
Time period = ……………………… s

(c) The pattern shown in the graph on the facing page is the result of rotation of the asteroid as it moves towards
earth. This causes one side of the asteroid to have a greater relative motion than the other. Find the velocity
at which the asteroid rotates at its outer edge.
velocity of rotation at asteroid surface = ……………………… m s-1

(d) Assuming an approximately spherical asteroid, the speed of rotation and the time period of rotation can be
used to find the radius of the asteroid – its size. Use your answer to Q(3)(b) & (c) above to find the radius of
the asteroid. Show full working.
radius of asteroid = ……………………… m
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An example exam question on radar measurements & world lines (June 2010 q11)
This question is about measuring the relative velocity of asteroids.
An asteroid is displaced from its orbit around the sun and heads towards Earth.
(a) A concerned astronomer uses radar to measure the distance of the asteroid from the Earth. This is the method:
 A short radar pulse is emitted at time 0.00 s.
 An echo from the asteroid is detected at 8.00 s.
(i) On the axes right, draw two straight lines to

show the space-time worldline of the radar
pulse.
[2]
(ii) Explain why the astronomer can assume that the

radar pulse reflects off the asteroid at a time
4.00 s.
[2]
(iii) Calculate the distance from the asteroid to the Earth at time 4.00 s.
distance = …………………….. m
[1]
(b) The astronomer sends out a second pulse at time 946.33 s, receiving an echo at time 953.67 s.
(i) Explain how the astronomer’s data show that the asteroid is getting closer to the Earth.
[2]
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(ii) Use the data to calculate the component of the velocity of the asteroid towards the Earth.
component velocity = ………………….. m s-1

[2]
(c) Explain how the astronomer could use the wavelength of a single radar echo to confirm the measurement of the
asteroid’s component of velocity towards the Earth.
[2]
markscheme for this question

available at /goo.gl/Gs85yb
(see QR code right)
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2. Measuring the distance to nearby stars: the parallax method
More information on using Stellar Parallax to measure the distance to nearby stars can be
found by going to www.alevelphysicsonline.com/astrophysics and scrolling about half way
down the page to the video titled “Stellar parallax” (goo.gl/A5V5Gr; QR code left – username:
physics@aquinas.ac.uk; password: 1234). Another explanation is available from sixtysymbols
(goo.gl/E7Tdf4; QR code right).
The stellar parallax method of measuring the distance to nearby

stars relies on the fact that, when observed closely over a period
of month, the position of some celestial objects appears to move
across the night sky.
An exaggerated version of this is shown in the image right,
where two different view of our nearest star, Proxima Centauri
are shown six months apart. In reality, the star appears to move
only a tiny amount in the night sky – equivalent to the distance
across a football placed about forty miles away. Nonetheless,
with modern equipment, we are able to track and measure the
change in parallax angle and use this, along with some simple
trigonometry, to find the distance to the nearby star.
Explain what is meant by the term PARALLAX.
The apparent change in position is measured as an angle in terms of our field of view. Think of someone stood on Earth
pointing their arm straight towards the star and tracking its motion over the next six months: the angle they pivot their
arm by would give the parallax angle. As this angle would be extremely small, we measure it not in terms of degrees,
but in terms of ARC-SECONDS.
Explain what is meant by an ARC-SECOND. What is one arc-second in degrees?
1 arc-second = ……………………. degrees
The figure on the facing page gives a representative view of how the position of our nearest star, Proxima Centauri,
appears to move across the night sky over a six month period.
The mean distance between the Earth and the Sun is known as ONE ASTRONOMICAL UNIT (1 A.U.), which is a
distance of 1.496 × 1011 m.
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Proxima Centauri: total angle moved

over 6 months = 1.54 arc-seconds
Annotate and add to the diagram above, and show full working throughout, to give the distance between Earth and
Proxima Centauri in:
(a) Metres:
distance = …………………………. m
(b) Astronomical Units:
distance = …………………….. A.U.

(c) Light years:
distance = …………….. light years
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Limitations of the Stellar Parallax

Describe some of the limitations on using Stellar Parallax as a method of measuring the distance to other stars and
celestial objects.
Space for your own notes

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3. Astronomical distance units

More information on the various distance measurements used in astronomy can be found by
going to www.alevelphysicsonline.com/astrophysics and scrolling about half way down the
page to the video titled “The Astronomical Unit, Light Year and Parsecs” (goo.gl/A5V5Gr; QR
code left – username: physics@aquinas.ac.uk; password: 1234). An alternative useful video is
a Ted-Ed animation (goo.gl/kpZgz6; QR code right).
Give definitions and explanations of the following units used to measure astronomical distances.
ATRONOMICAL UNIT (AU)
Definition
Distance in metres:
LIGHT YEAR (ly)

Definition
Distance in metres:
PARSEC (pc)
Definition (it may be worth including a diagram)
Distance in metres:
Distance in light years:
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4. Measuring to more distant sources: standard candles

To measure the distance to more objects in space that are so far away that the parallax angle they give over the course
of six months is beyond the resolution of modern monitoring instruments – which is the vast majority of stars in the
Milky Way, and all other galaxies aside from our own – we look at the intensity of light arriving from celestial objects
known as STANDARD CANDLES.
Explain what is meant by a STANDARD CANDLE in astronomy.
In order to use these standard candles as markers of astronomical distances, we first need to understand how we expect
the intensity of light from an object to vary as we move increasing distances away from that source.
Light intensity and the inverse square law

A nice animation showing the relationship between the light intensity received and the distance away from a
source can be found at goo.gl/h3qRjx (QR code left).
In the Prezi presentation for this topic there is a video in which TV’s Brian Cox explains how the first
measurements were taken here on Earth to estimate the power of the Sun (goo.gl/J4TA7P; QR code right). A
number of extrapolations were needed in this calculation, not least of which is an understanding of how light
intensity varies with distance from a source of light.
The key measurement here is that the LIGHT INTENSITY at the Earth’s surface with the sun directly overhead is 1400
W m-2.
Use this information to estimate the power of the sun (you may want to do this on a whiteboard / scrap paper before
committing your reasoning to this booklet
Power = …………………………….. W
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In order to help with your estimation, the following prompts may help:
(1) What is meant by the term POWER (also known as LUMINOSITY when considering stars and galaxies)?
(2) What is meant by the term INTENSITY of radiation of light? What are its units?
Units: …………………..
(3) State the equation linking light intensity I

and power P
 =
(4) If light radiates out from a source in all directions, what is the shape of the (imaginary) surface that the photons
from the source, emitted in all directions at the same instant, passes through at a given instant in time?
(5) What equation gives the area of the surface of this shape? A=
 =
(6) State an alternative equation giving the light
intensity I at a distance d away from an
source of known power P
(7) Complete the sentence below to outline the relationship you would expect between light intensity received and the
distance you are from a point source of light (which radiates equally in all directions):
When you double the distance you are away from a point source of light, the light
intensity…
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Some questions on the inverse-square law of light

(1) If a source of light has a power of 1 MW; what is the light intensity at a distance of…
(a) 1 km?
(b) 2 km?
(c) 4 km?
(2) Sirius A is the brightest star in the night sky. It is 8.6 light years from Earth.
(a) Show that this distance is approximately 8 × 1016 m.
(b) Hence determine the intensity of Sirius A as seen from Earth. The luminosity (or power) of Sirius A is 1.0 ×
1028 W
(3) Two distant stars are observed through a telescope. Star A is observed to be half as bright as star B. Star A is
calculated to be twice as far away as star B. Which one of the following is correct?
A Star A has half the luminosity of star B. B Star A has the same luminosity as star B.
C Star A has twice the luminosity of star B. D Star A has 8 times the luminosity of star B.
(4) A standard candle, within a nearby star cluster, is a distance D from the Earth. It produces a radiation intensity I
at the surface of the Earth. The intensity at the surface of the Earth, for a standard candle of the same luminosity
in a second star cluster, is 4I. The distance of the second star cluster from the Earth is:
A 4D B 2D C 𝐷⁄2 D 𝐷⁄4
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Some examples of standard candles often used in astronomy

Use your own research (and watch the videos linked to below) to take notes on these two common types of standard
candles.
(You will not need to know details of either of these for the exam; just that they exist and that you can use the inverse-
square law to work out their distance given the measured intensity of light received on Earth)
Cepheid variables
Information on the discovery of Cepheid variables by Henrietta Swan Leavett can be found at
goo.gl/XS6kq2 (QR code left) and goo.gl/jQpysa (QR code right)
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(Type 1A) Supernovae

Information on the use of Type 1A supernovae as standard candles can be found at goo.gl/JiqbHs
(QR code left) and goo.gl/KFnwNo (QR code right).
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5. Mastery Questions
Isaac physics questions on Light Intensity & Amplitude online learning & skills check
1. Go to the page at isaacphysics.org/questions/ch_d_p1 (QR code right) and answer the

questions. It should take you 15-20 minutes. You will need paper and pen to work out the
solutions to the questions out before entering your answer into the browser.
2. Please complete this for the deadline that your teacher sets you:
3. Use the space below for your working then input
your answer to the Isaac physics website linked to
above.
Deadline for this piece of work:……………………
*In these questions, use the relationship that the intensity of light arriving at a point is related to the amplitude of the
wave given the following relationship:
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 ∝ 𝑨𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝟐
Skill mastery level 8/10
D1.1 5.0 W of light from a lamp shines on 2.0 m × 3.0 m wall. Calculate the intensity.
Intensity = …………………. Units ……………….

D1.2 A 5.0 W laser is shone on a wall, making a circular spot of diameter 1.0 mm. Work out the intensity.

D1.3 Work out the power of the sources needed to cover a 7.0 m × 7.0 m stage with light to an intensity of 300 W
m-2, to 2 significant figures.
Power = …………………. Units ……………….

D1.4 If one day the solar intensity incident on a part of England is 400 W m-2, work out the total energy that would
arrive in one minute on a square piece of land 2.0 km × 2.0 km. Give your answer to 2 significant figures.
Energy = …………………. Units ……………….
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D1.5 One laser emits light that has an amplitude 200 V m-1 and intensity 0.26 W m-2. Another laser emits light
that has amplitude 300 V m-1. In all other respects it is identical. Work out its intensity to 2 significant figures.
D1.6 A third similar laser emits light with intensity 1.5 W m-2. Work out the amplitude of the light.
Amplitude = …………………. Units ……………….
D1.7 Three sets of ripples on the surface of a pond have amplitudes 1.5 cm, 2.25 cm and 3.0 cm respectively.
Which of the following give the ratios of the intensities of these three waves.
A 3 : 4.5 : 6 B 1 : 2.25 : 4 C 1 : 5.0625 : 9
Answer ……………….
D1.8 The light from a bulb shines equally in all directions. If 20 W of light is given off, what will the intensity be
12 m from the lamp to 2 significant figures?
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D1.9 What would the answer to question D1.8 be at a distance of 24 m, to 2 significant figures.
D1.10 The Sun is 1.5 × 1011 m from the Earth. If the power incident on Earth is approximately 1.0 kW m-2, calculate
the total power (luminosity) of the Sun. Give your answer in Watts.
Power = …………………. Units ……………….
Further Mastery Questions
These questions come from a number of sources, but mostly from the A level textbook available from the
link on the departmental website to kerboodle (goo.gl/AJTahM; see QR code right and follow the
instructions).
(1) Calculate the distance in light-seconds between the Earth and Mars when the two planets are at their closest, about
5.5 × 1010 m
distance = …………………… light-seconds
(2) Give two reasons why radar is not suitable for measuring distances beyond the solar system
1.
2.
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(3) A radar pulse makes a return journey to an asteroid in 40.4 s.

(a) Calculate the distance to the asteroid at the time of measurement. State any assumptions that you make.
distance = ……………………… m
Assumptions
(b) The measurement was repeated 12.0 minutes later. The time for the return journey of the pulse was found to
be 40.1 s. Calculate the relative velocity of approach of the asteroid during this time.
velocity of approach = ………………………. m s-1

(4) Calculate the parallax angle for a star which is 11 light years away from Earth (1 AU = 1.5 × 1011 m).
(5) Use the grid given to draw a space-time

diagram for the following situation:
(a) Draw the diagram that is at a distance
of 𝑥⁄𝑐 = 2 s at a time t = 0 s. The
object is moving at 0.5 c relative to the
observer. Show the world line for the
object from t = 0 s to t = 12 s.
(b) A pulse of light leaves the observer in

(a) at a time of t = 1 s. Draw the path of
the light on the space-time diagram,
showing it reflecting from the object
and returning to the observer.
(c) Use the diagram in (b) to calculate the

distance between the observer and the
object when the reflection took place.
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(6) The star Alpha Centauri is one of the nearest to Earth. It is observed to shift in direction by 4.2 × 10-4 degrees when
observed from opposite sides of the Earth’s orbit (distance = 2 A.U.). Calculate the distance to Alpha Centauri in
metres and light-years.
(7) A space probe is travelling away from Earth at a speed of 30 km s-1. Show that the Doppler shift of the wavelength
of the 1 GHz radio wave signals being sent from the probe is 0.03 mm.
(8) The figure right shows the worldline of a spacecraft

which passes the Earth and then returns. Clocks on the
Earth and the spacecraft are zeroed at the instant that
the spacecraft passes the Earth.
(a) The worldline for the spacecraft is a straight line
until t = 5 years. What does this tell you about the
motion of the spacecraft?
(b) A single pulse of light is sent towards the

spacecraft when the Earth clock reads t = 1.0 years. It reflects off the spacecraft and returns to Earth.
(i) Why is the worldline of light always 45o on the figure?
(ii) Draw the complete worldline of the pulse of light on the figure.
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(c) The arrival of the pulse of light at the spacecraft is the signal for it to turn around and return to Earth.
(i) Explain how an observer can use the times of emission and reception to calculate that the spacecraft
was 4.0 light-years from the Earth when the pulse reached it.
(ii) Explain how an observer on Earth can use the time of emission and return of the pulse to deduce that
the spacecraft turned around when the Earth clock read t = 5.0 years.
(iii) Show that the outward speed of the spacecraft relative to Earth is 2.4 × 108 m s-1.
(9) A satellite in orbit around Mars uses pulses of light to map the surface of the planet.
(a) The satellite emits a brief pulse of light towards the surface and detects a reflected pulse after a time delay of
840 s. Calculate the distance d of the planet surface below the satellite.
(b) State an assumption made in your calculation above
(c) Suggest how the satellite could use pulses of light to check whether the altitude of its orbit was decreasing
gradually.
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Aquinas College Physics Module 5.1.

3: Astronomy & Cosmology

Important resources for this module:

Free access to the course textbook (via

Challenging questions from GCSE level to Undergraduate physics problems.

Multiple-choice practice revision

Watched the videos linked to in each section?

Answered all the mastery questions at the back of this booklet?

Two-Year Course Overview

Christmas Holidays Christmas Holidays

06-Jan 3.1.2.B 5.2.2 Boltzmann Factor 5.2.1.

Easter Holidays Easter Holidays

20-Apr Revision & Mock Exam

(iii) the measurement of relative velocities by radar observation.

(ii) distances and relative velocities from radar-type measurements

Definitions / explanations you are expected to learn are given

Equations you are expected to be able to use are given double

Online learning checks and assignments are linked to in double

1. Measuring distances to nearby objects

Using radar to measure distances

3) Critique the statement below:

 Time is always plotted on the y-axis

A spacecraft leaves Earth and travels at a speed of

(c) How long in total is the secret mission?

(d) How far has the spacecraft travelled in total?

Space for your own notes

Using radar to measure velocities

relative velocity = …………………. m s-1

Method 2: Using the Doppler Effect

The Doppler Effect is…

frequency received = …………………. Hz

Explanation: Modified equation:

(3) An asteroid is discovered flying

relative velocity = …………………. m s-1

(b) What is the time period of the asteroid?

Time period = ……………………… s

velocity of rotation at asteroid surface = ……………………… m s-1

radius of asteroid = ……………………… m

 A short radar pulse is emitted at time 0.00 s.

 An echo from the asteroid is detected at 8.00 s.

(i) On the axes right, draw two straight lines to

(ii) Explain why the astronomer can assume that the

component velocity = ………………….. m s-1

markscheme for this question

2. Measuring the distance to nearby stars: the parallax method

The stellar parallax method of measuring the distance to nearby

Explain what is meant by the term PARALLAX.

1 arc-second = ……………………. degrees

Proxima Centauri: total angle moved

distance = …………………….. A.U.

distance = …………….. light years

Limitations of the Stellar Parallax

Space for your own notes

3. Astronomical distance units

LIGHT YEAR (ly)

Distance in light years:

4. Measuring to more distant sources: standard candles

Light intensity and the inverse square law

(3) State the equation linking light intensity I

Some questions on the inverse-square law of light