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Date November 2020 Marks available 2 Reference code 20N.3.SL.TZ0.14
Level Standard level Paper Paper 3 Time zone 0 - no time zone
Command term Define Question number 14 Adapted from N/A

Question

An image of a comet is shown.

Comet P/Halley as taken March 8, 1986 by W. Liller, Easter Island, part of the International Halley Watch (IHW) Large Scale Phenomena Network.

The astronomical unit (AU) and light year (ly) are convenient measures of distance in astrophysics. Define each unit.

AU:

ly:

[2]
a.

Comets develop a tail as they approach the Sun. Identify one other characteristic of comets.

[1]
b(i).

Identify one object visible in the image that is outside our Solar System.

[1]
b(ii).

Markscheme

AU: «average» distance from the Earth to the Sun

ly: distance light travels in one year

a.

made of ice «and dust»

«highly» eccentric/elliptical orbit around the Sun

formed in the Oort Cloud

b(i).

star / named star / stellar cluster/ galaxy/ constellation

 

Answer may be indicated on the photograph.

b(ii).

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b(i).
[N/A]
b(ii).

Syllabus sections

Option D: Astrophysics » Option D: Astrophysics (Core topics) » D.1 – Stellar quantities
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Option D: Astrophysics » Option D: Astrophysics (Core topics)
Option D: Astrophysics

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