AQA GCSE PHYSICS – SPACE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Big Bang theory - answer the theory that the universe was created in a massive explosion (the
Big Bang), and that the universe has been expanding ever since
black dwarf - answer a star that has faded out and gone cold
black hole - answer an object in space that has so much mass that nothing, not even light, can
escape from its gravitational field
centripetal force - answer the resultant force towards the centre of a circle acting on an object
moving in a circular path
cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) - answer electromagnetic radiation that has
been travelling through space ever since it was created shortly after the Big Bang
dark matter - answer matter in a galaxy that cannot be seen. Its presence is deduced because
galaxies would spin much faster if their stars were their only matter
main sequence - answer the main sequence is the life stage of a star during which it radiates
energy because of fusion of hydrogen nuclei in its core
neutron star - answer the highly compressed core of a massive star that remains after a
supernova explosion
protostar - answer the concentration of dust clouds and gas in space that forms a star
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Big Bang theory - answer the theory that the universe was created in a massive explosion (the
Big Bang), and that the universe has been expanding ever since
black dwarf - answer a star that has faded out and gone cold
black hole - answer an object in space that has so much mass that nothing, not even light, can
escape from its gravitational field
centripetal force - answer the resultant force towards the centre of a circle acting on an object
moving in a circular path
cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) - answer electromagnetic radiation that has
been travelling through space ever since it was created shortly after the Big Bang
dark matter - answer matter in a galaxy that cannot be seen. Its presence is deduced because
galaxies would spin much faster if their stars were their only matter
main sequence - answer the main sequence is the life stage of a star during which it radiates
energy because of fusion of hydrogen nuclei in its core
neutron star - answer the highly compressed core of a massive star that remains after a
supernova explosion
protostar - answer the concentration of dust clouds and gas in space that forms a star
