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Summary Notes - Topic 8 Astrophysics - Edexcel Physics IGCSE

The document is about astrophysics topics covered in an Edexcel Physics GCSE course. It discusses [1] the structure of the universe from galaxies to our solar system, [2] how gravitational force enables objects to orbit one another like planets orbiting the sun, and [3] the stages of stellar evolution from gas nebulae to red giants or supernovae.

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723 views3 pages

Summary Notes - Topic 8 Astrophysics - Edexcel Physics IGCSE

The document is about astrophysics topics covered in an Edexcel Physics GCSE course. It discusses [1] the structure of the universe from galaxies to our solar system, [2] how gravitational force enables objects to orbit one another like planets orbiting the sun, and [3] the stages of stellar evolution from gas nebulae to red giants or supernovae.

Uploaded by

dilsharakavi
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Edexcel Physics GCSE

Topic 8: Astrophysics
Revision Notes
(Content in bold is for physics only)
Motion in the universe

 The universe is a large collection of billions of galaxies.


 A galaxy is a large collection of billions of stars.
 Our solar system is in the Milky Way galaxy.

The gravitational field strength is the force per unit mass on a body in a gravitational field and
is measured in Newtons per kilogram (N/kg). It varies with the mass and size of the body and is
therefore different on other planets and the moon compared to the Earth.
 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 × 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔

Gravitational force enables the various bodies to orbit


around others. For example:
 Moons orbit planets
o The orbits are slightly elliptical with
near constant orbital speed
 Planets and comets orbit the Sun
o The orbits of planets are slightly
elliptical with near constant orbital
speed. The orbits of comets are highly
elliptical with a greater orbital speed the
closer they are to the Sun.
 Artificial satellites orbit the Earth

The greater the orbital radius or the smaller the time period, the greater the orbital speed:
Stellar evolution balances with the inwards pressure due to
gravity and the star is now stable and called a
• A star begins as a cloud of
gas called a nebula. The
particles experience a weak
attraction towards each other
due to gravity and begin to
clump together.
• They continue to clump
together until the pressure and
temperature is great enough
for nuclear fusion to occur.
o Hydrogen nuclei fuse
together to form helium nuclei
which releases a large amount
of energy and causes a great
outwards pressure.
o This outwards pressure
main sequence star
 Eventually the hydrogen in the star is used up.
There is no longer enough outward pressure
from nuclear fusion and it collapses under its
own gravitational attraction, becoming unstable.
o If the star has a similar mass to the Sun, it expands massively and becomes a red
giant. It then becomes a white dwarf (and finally cools into a black dwarf).
o If the star has a mass larger than the Sun, it expands and becomes a red super
giant, before exploding in a supernova. What remains is either a neutron star, or if
it was exceptionally massive, a black hole.

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