Date | May 2011 | Marks available | 3 | Reference code | 11M.3.HL.TZ2.4 |
Level | Higher level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | Time zone 2 |
Command term | Outline | Question number | 4 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
This question is about the Hubble constant.
Outline the measurements that must be taken in order to determine a value for the Hubble constant.
One estimate of the Hubble constant is 60 km s–1 Mpc–1. Cygnus A is a radio galaxy at a distance of 6.0×108 ly from Earth. Calculate, in km s–1, the recessional speed of Cygnus A relative to the Earth.
Markscheme
red shift used to measure recessional speed of galaxies;
named measurement to yield distance to galaxies (e.g. Cepheid variable, Supernova);
repeat for many galaxies/clusters of galaxies;
Hubble constant is gradient of speed–distance graph; {(any symbols used must be defined)
To award [3] reference must be made to galaxies in at least one of the marking points.
\(v = 60 \times \frac{{6.0 \times {{10}^8}}}{{3.26 \times {{10}^6}}}\);
=1.1×104 km s−1;