AQA GCSE Physics Physics Paper 2 (Foundation), November 2021: Question 6

✅ Correct Answer

g = 300.0 N/kg (or 300 N/kg)

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

1. State the equation: gravitational field strength = weight / mass
2. Substitute values: 750 / 2.5
3. Calculate result: 300

❌ Common Errors

Students sometimes accidentally invert the equation (multiplying mass and weight instead of dividing) or forget to include the correct unit ( N/kg ).

✅ Correct Answer

Tick: Electrostatic

💡 Key Knowledge

• Non-contact force: Objects do not need to be physically touching for the force to act (e.g., gravity, electrostatic, magnetic forces).
• Contact force: Objects must be physically touching (e.g., air resistance, friction, tension, normal contact force).

✅ Correct Answer

Box 1 (second down): Red giant

Box 2 (third down): White dwarf

🧠 Exam Technique

Look at the anchor points given in the flow chart ( Main sequence star at the top, Black dwarf at the bottom). For a star similar in size to our Sun, the sequence progresses from main sequence to red giant, then white dwarf, and finally cools into a black dwarf.

✅ Correct Answer

Tick: Z

Reason: Only stars about the same or smaller size/mass as the Sun become black dwarfs.

💡 Key Knowledge

Look at Table 3: Star Z has a mass of × 0.9 compared to the Sun, whereas X and Y are much more massive ( × 25.0 and × 15.0 ). Massive stars follow a different pathway ending in a supernova, neutron star, or black hole.

✅ Correct Answer

Tick: Supernova

💡 Key Knowledge

• Normal star fusion produces elements up to iron (Fe).
• Elements heavier than iron require the extreme temperatures and pressures generated during a supernova explosion to form and be distributed across the universe.