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Brainlag Learn / GCSE Physics

Space physics

The solar system and the Milky Way, the life cycle of a star, orbits and orbital speed, red-shift and the expanding universe, and what is still unknown.

Lessons

  1. The solar system and the Milky WayThe Sun, planets, dwarf planets and moons, natural and artificial satellites, how the solar system sits in the Milky Way, and huge distances in standard form and light-years. 20 min, free, Physics only
  2. The life cycle of a starHow a star forms from a nebula, why a main sequence star is stable, the two ways a star can end depending on its mass, and where the chemical elements come from. 25 min, free, Physics only
  3. Orbits and orbital speedWhy gravity keeps moons, planets and satellites in orbit, how the velocity can change while the speed stays the same, why closer orbits are faster, and calculating orbital speed with v = 2πr/T. 25 min, with the Orbits simulation, Plus, Physics only, Higher tier
  4. Red-shift and the expanding universeWhy light from distant galaxies is shifted towards red, why more distant galaxies move away faster, and how this, with the cosmic microwave background, supports the Big Bang theory. 25 min, Plus, Physics only
  5. Dark matter, dark energy and reading space dataWhat galaxy rotation and the speeding-up expansion suggest we cannot yet explain, and practice reading tables of space data for patterns, ratios and odd results. 20 min, Plus, Physics only

Practise and test

AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR are registered trade marks of their owners. Brainlag Learn is independent: it is not affiliated with or endorsed by any exam board, and every question on it is original.