2025 AQA A-level PHYSICS Paper 3 Section B Astrophysics Combined Question Paper & Final Marking Scheme
Please write clearly in block capitals.
Centre number Candidate number
Surname
Forename(s)
Candidate signature
I declare this is my own work.
A-level
PHYSICS
Paper 3
Section B Astrophysics
Tuesday 17 June 2025 Morning Time allowed: The total time for
both sections of this paper is
Materials
2 hours. You are advised to
For this paper you must have:
a pencil and a ruler spend approximately
a scientific calculator 50 minutes on this section.
a Data and Formulae Booklet
a protractor.
Instructions For Examiner’s Use
Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
Question Mark
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page.
Answer all questions. 1
You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write 2
outside the box around each page or on blank pages. 3
If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of
4
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s).
Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want 5
to be marked. TOTAL
Show all your working.
Information
The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
The maximum mark for this paper is 35.
You are expected to use a scientific calculator where appropriate.
A Data and Formulae Booklet is provided as a loose insert.
7 408/3BA
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IB/M/Jun25/G4006/E7
, 2
Do not write
outside the
Section B box
Answer all questions in this section.
0 1 HIP 56948 is a star with a black-body temperature of 5800 K. The star is at a
distance of 210 ly from the Sun.
0 1 . 1 Sketch, on Figure 1, the black-body curve for HIP 56948.
Label the wavelength axis with a suitable scale and unit.
[3 marks]
Figure 1
0 1 . 2 The diameter of HIP 56948 is the same as the diameter of the Sun.
Suggest a value for the absolute magnitude of HIP 56948.
[1 mark]
absolute magnitude =
0 1 . 3 Astronomers study HIP 56948 in their search for Earth-like exoplanets because
HIP 56948 is similar to the Sun.
Suggest one difficulty in detecting an Earth-like planet around HIP 56948.
[1 mark]
5
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IB/M/Jun25/7408/3BA
, 3
Do not write
outside the
0 2 . 1 Draw a ray diagram for an astronomical telescope in normal adjustment. box
Include in your diagram:
three non-axial rays
labelled principal foci for the lenses.
[2 marks]
Question 2 continues on the next page
Turn over ►
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IB/M/Jun25/7408/3BA
, 4
Do not write
outside the
0 2 . 2 An astronomer has two telescopes A and B. box
The astronomer uses each telescope to make observations of Mars when Mars
is 0.55 AU from the Earth.
Table 1 gives information about A and B.
Table 1
Telescope Type Objective diameter / m Angular magnification
A refractor 0.12 25
B reflector 0.18 40
diameter of Mars = 6.8 × 103 km
angular resolution of the eye ≈ 3 × 10−4 rad
Compare the images formed by A and B.
In your answer, refer to:
the relative brightness of the images
the ability of each telescope to show features on Mars
the effect of any aberrations caused by each type of telescope.
[6 marks]
for more: tyrionpapers.com
IB/M/Jun25/7408/3BA
Please write clearly in block capitals.
Centre number Candidate number
Surname
Forename(s)
Candidate signature
I declare this is my own work.
A-level
PHYSICS
Paper 3
Section B Astrophysics
Tuesday 17 June 2025 Morning Time allowed: The total time for
both sections of this paper is
Materials
2 hours. You are advised to
For this paper you must have:
a pencil and a ruler spend approximately
a scientific calculator 50 minutes on this section.
a Data and Formulae Booklet
a protractor.
Instructions For Examiner’s Use
Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
Question Mark
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page.
Answer all questions. 1
You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write 2
outside the box around each page or on blank pages. 3
If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of
4
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s).
Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want 5
to be marked. TOTAL
Show all your working.
Information
The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
The maximum mark for this paper is 35.
You are expected to use a scientific calculator where appropriate.
A Data and Formulae Booklet is provided as a loose insert.
7 408/3BA
for more : tyrionpapers.com
IB/M/Jun25/G4006/E7
, 2
Do not write
outside the
Section B box
Answer all questions in this section.
0 1 HIP 56948 is a star with a black-body temperature of 5800 K. The star is at a
distance of 210 ly from the Sun.
0 1 . 1 Sketch, on Figure 1, the black-body curve for HIP 56948.
Label the wavelength axis with a suitable scale and unit.
[3 marks]
Figure 1
0 1 . 2 The diameter of HIP 56948 is the same as the diameter of the Sun.
Suggest a value for the absolute magnitude of HIP 56948.
[1 mark]
absolute magnitude =
0 1 . 3 Astronomers study HIP 56948 in their search for Earth-like exoplanets because
HIP 56948 is similar to the Sun.
Suggest one difficulty in detecting an Earth-like planet around HIP 56948.
[1 mark]
5
for more: tyrionpapers.com
IB/M/Jun25/7408/3BA
, 3
Do not write
outside the
0 2 . 1 Draw a ray diagram for an astronomical telescope in normal adjustment. box
Include in your diagram:
three non-axial rays
labelled principal foci for the lenses.
[2 marks]
Question 2 continues on the next page
Turn over ►
for more: tyrionpapers.com
IB/M/Jun25/7408/3BA
, 4
Do not write
outside the
0 2 . 2 An astronomer has two telescopes A and B. box
The astronomer uses each telescope to make observations of Mars when Mars
is 0.55 AU from the Earth.
Table 1 gives information about A and B.
Table 1
Telescope Type Objective diameter / m Angular magnification
A refractor 0.12 25
B reflector 0.18 40
diameter of Mars = 6.8 × 103 km
angular resolution of the eye ≈ 3 × 10−4 rad
Compare the images formed by A and B.
In your answer, refer to:
the relative brightness of the images
the ability of each telescope to show features on Mars
the effect of any aberrations caused by each type of telescope.
[6 marks]
for more: tyrionpapers.com
IB/M/Jun25/7408/3BA
