Space Physics
GCSE physics syllabus topics included are: The expanding universe.
The life cycle of a star.
The Solar System..
→What is the life cycle of a star? The life cycle of a star begins with a cloud of gas and dust in space.
This cloud collapses under its own gravity to form a protostar, which then continues to contract and heat up until it becomes a main sequence star..
The invention of the telescope meant that much more detailed observations could be made, and it became possible to see objects much further away.
Modern increases in the size and sensitivity of telescopes have meant that observations can be made to incredible distances and the very faintest of stars..
Specifications in GCSE astronomy must require students to understand the key physical properties of each of these three bodies, and the importance of astronomical cycles created by them, including night and day, seasons, tides, lunar phases and eclipses, and their role in our timekeeping and calendar systems..
The GCSE in Astronomy requires students to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding of working scientifically.
Working scientifically will be assessed through the examinations..
Astronomy - GCSE Physics (Single Science) Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize..
Relevant to all stages: BBC Bitesize is relevant for students of all education levels – from primary school to GCSE, and even A-levels.
Wide variety of subjects: BBC Bitesize covers topics across subjects like Maths, Sciences, English, Art and Design, and Humanities..
Studying GCSE Astronomy will help you cultivate fundamental skills both universities and employers value highly, such as scientific thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to evaluate observations and methodologies..
Optical telescopes
observe visible light from space.
Small ones allow amateurs to view the night sky relatively cheaply but there are very large optical telescopes sited around the world for professional astronomers to use.
Optical telescopes on the ground have some disadvantages: They can only be used at night..
After the main sequence period, they expand and become red super giants.
This is followed by an explosion in which the outer layers of the star are ejected.
This is called a supernova..
GCSE specifications in astronomy should enable students to: • understand the structures of the Earth, Moon and Sun; and how their. interactions produce many of the astronomical cycles and phenomena of our. natural world. • understand the Earth's place within the Solar System and the universe; and the..
The GCSE in Astronomy requires students to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding of working scientifically.
Working scientifically will be assessed through the examinations..
A main sequence star is the stage in the life cycle of a star when it is shining brightly and stable, and is producing energy through nuclear reactions in its core.
Our Sun is a main sequence star, and this stage can last billions of years depending on the size of the star..
Our Sun belongs to a spiral galaxy called the Milky Way.
Astronomers estimate that the Milky Way is a collection of about 100 thousand million stars.
That's 100,000,000,000 stars.
Our solar system lies in one of the Milky Way's four spiral arms, nearly two thirds of the way from the centre..
The fusion process releases energy, which keeps the core of the star hot.
During this stable phase in the life of a star, the force of gravity holding the star together is balanced by higher pressure due to the high temperatures.
The Sun is at this stable phase in its life..
Gravity and nuclear fusion reactions drive the formation and development of stars.
Stars with different masses grow and change throughout the different stages of their lives.
The Solar System was formed around 4.6 billion years ago from a large cloud of dust and gas
Called a nebula.
Planets orbit the Sun in roughly circular paths
And moons orbit around planets.
Asteroids and comets move in paths which are more oval in shape.
The Sun’s gravity holds all of these objects together
And the gravitational forces between objects can cause less massive objects to orbit more massive objects.
It is a relatively small star when compared to other stars in the Universe.
Our Solar System contains the Sun and everything that orbits it.
The Sun
The Earth's star
Is the largest object in the Solar System.
The Sun’s huge gravitational field keeps many other objects - planets
Asteroids and comets – in orbit around it.
The Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST)
a planned 10-year survey of the southern sky
may provide astronomers with an unprecedented view of the Universe. "It takes a lot to make a paradigm shift
especially when people have their lives and careers invested in it
but ultimately with science we have to see who is right
it is perfectly fine if you have your own exam centre.
Given the new GCSE Astronomy format
there is now NO requirement to meet with the tutor for supervised projects.
Just the requirement to attend an exam centre twice
for two exams (detailed below).
Please check back regularly as this can change but we now have centres in
Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 50% of the qualification 100 marks A mixture of different question styles
including multiple-choice questions
short-answer questions
graphical and extended- open-response questions.
So
what does this mean for our GCSE Astronomy students
how will we be delivering this?
