New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

Pupil Worksheet

Week 34 Topic 3.2

Spec. refs 3.5, 3.6, 3.7

1. What is the name for particularly high tides that occur generally every two weeks?
Choose from:

morning tides neap tides spring tides

Your answer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1)

2. The diagram shows the Sun and the Earth.

Sun Earth

On the diagram, indicate the two positions of the Moon that help top cause neap tides
on the Earth.
(2)

New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

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 New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

3. The diagram shows a large moon orbiting a massive planet.

X Z

At which point (X, Y or Z) on the moon is the planet’s gravitational field strength the
greatest?

Your answer: . . . . . . . . . . .
(1)

4. The First Point of Aries no longer lies in the constellation of Aries.

What is the reason for this?

x A Changes to the Earth’s orbital plane

x B Changes in the tilt of the Earth’s axis

x C Incorrect mapping of constellations

x D Precession of the Earth’s axis

(1)

5. Which astronomy student is correct?

Aymee: The Earth’s axis is Jonny: The Earth’s axis is

tilted at 23.5 degrees to the tilted at 66.5 degrees to the
plane of the ecliptic. plane of the ecliptic.

Your answer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1)

New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

© Mickledore Publishing 2017
 New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

6. The diagram shows how the location of the North Celestial Pole (NCP) has changed
(and will continue to change) over time.

15 000 CE
Vega

 Her  Cyg

4500 BCE motion 8500 CE

of NCP
Thuban Alderamin

Kochab
2000 CE

Polaris

In approximately how many years’ time will the NCP lie close to the star  Cyg?
Choose from:

7000 years 9000 years 11 000 years

Your answer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1)

7. Which of the following has NOT been caused by precession?

x A Changes to the sunspot cycle

x B Changes to the date of the spring equinox

x C Different stars being close to the North Celestial Pole

x D Misalignment of ancient monuments with particular stars

(1)

8. Why are the effects of precession difficult to observe?

x A Ancient monuments are no longer aligned with particular stars.

x B The Earth’s orbit around the Sun is elliptical.

x C Precession happens too quickly.

x D The time for one precession cycle is 26 000 years.

(1)

New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

© Mickledore Publishing 2017
 New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

9. An ancient monument was built so that a particular star was aligned with two of its key
stones at the time of the summer solstice.

The two stones are currently misaligned by 31.2°.

If the Earth’s mean precession rate is 1.38° per century, estimate:

(a) the age of the ancient monument,

(b) the year in which the monument was constructed.

.................................................................

.................................................................

.................................................................
(3)

10. A number of students tweeted their thoughts about tidal forces acting on moons
orbiting massive planets:

Liam: ‘Tidal forces are a consequence of the inverse square nature of gravitation.’
Avery: ‘Tidal forces have little impact on small moons because the difference in the
gravitational force on the moon’s near and far sides is too small.’
Riley: ‘Tidal forces have little impact on moons with large orbits because the
difference in the gravitational force on the moon’s near and far sides is too
small.’

Whose tweets are correct?

Your answer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3)

New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

© Mickledore Publishing 2017
 New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

Solutions
1. spring tides (1 mark)
2. (1) mark for each correct position of the Moon. Maximum 2 marks

Moon (1)

Sun Earth

Moon (1)
3. X (1)
4. D (1)
5. Jonny (1)
6. 9000 y (1)
7. A (1)
8. D (1)
9. 4300 years (1)
2280 BCE (2); allow (1) mark for 6320 BCE
10. Liam (1), Avery (1) and Riley (1) are all correct.

Your score: / 15

New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

© Mickledore Publishing 2017