The Sun as a star

6.2.1

What the syllabus asks of you

Know that the Sun is a star of medium size, consisting mostly of hydrogen and helium, and that it radiates most of its energy in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum
Know that stars are powered by nuclear reactions that release energy and that in stable stars the nuclear reactions involve the fusion of hydrogen into helium

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Chapter 6: The Sun as a star

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Drill this topic

Every question on The Sun as a star, untimed, marked as you go.

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Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.

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8 questions

1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q38

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Agamma rays, microwaves and visible light

Binfrared radiation, radio waves and ultraviolet radiation

Cinfrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation and visible light

Dultraviolet radiation, visible light and X-rays

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2May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q39

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Ainfrared, radio, visible

Binfrared, ultraviolet, visible

Cgamma, radio, visible

Dultraviolet, visible, X-rays

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3May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q40

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Athe fission of hydrogen into helium

Bthe fission of helium into hydrogen

Cthe fusion of hydrogen into helium

Dthe fusion of helium into hydrogen

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4May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q40

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Afission of helium to produce hydrogen

Bfission of hydrogen to produce helium

Cfusion of helium into hydrogen

Dfusion of hydrogen into helium

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5May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q39

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Ainfrared region

Bmicrowave region

Cradio wave region

DX-ray region

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6May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q18Also set in May / June 2020 Paper 11

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Ain the decay of $^{14}$C used to date an object

Bin a radioactive isotope emitting alpha-particles

Cin the centre of the Earth

Din the centre of the Sun

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7Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q15Also set in Oct / Nov 2019 Paper 11

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Ain a nuclear power station

Bin a radioactive isotope emitting alpha-particles

Cin the core of the Earth

Din the core of the Sun

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8May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q8Also set in May / June 2016 Paper 11

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Aburning

Bnuclear fission

Cnuclear fusion

Dradiation

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