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P6 General Studies: Space Exploration and Aerospace Technology (Paper 3: challenge)
Tutor Prep Guide · the solar system, light years and light speed, rocket reaction, lunar gravity and satellite orbits
P6 General Studies: Space Exploration and Aerospace Technology (Paper 3: challenge)
Paper three chains the formulas, working from radius to circumference to speed.
Direct answers Remember one line: find the radius, then the circumference, then divide by time.
01 Paper details (check answers afterwards)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 10 |
| Suggested time | 20 |
| Difficulty mix | Foundation 3 · Intermediate 3 · Challenge 3 · Error redo 1 |
| Chapter | Chapter: P6 General Studies: Space Exploration and Aerospace Technology |
| Level | the solar system, light years and light speed, rocket reaction, lunar gravity and satellite orbits |
02 Questions (10 items)
- FoundationA rocket has a total mass of 500 tonnes, of which 400 tonnes is fuel. What percentage is fuel?
- FoundationWhen a spacecraft fires its engine, the crew feel pressed into their seats. Which law explains this?
- FoundationHow do mass and weight differ in space?
- IntermediateMars and Earth are about 55 million km apart at closest approach. How long does a radio signal take one way?
- IntermediateFollowing that, what is the minimum round trip time for a signal between Earth and Mars?
- IntermediateA geostationary satellite sits 35786 km above ground and Earth radius is 6371 km. What is the orbital circumference?
- ChallengeFollowing that, the satellite completes one orbit in 24 hours. What is its average speed in km per second?
- ChallengeEarth orbits the Sun at 30 km per second. Over 365 days of 86400 seconds, how many hundred million km does it travel?
- ChallengeVoyager 1 travels at about 17 km per second. How many years would it take to cover one light year of 9.46 trillion km?
- Error redoA student answers that the Sun is a planet. What is correct?
03 Answers and one-line notes
| # | Answer | One-line note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80.0 percent | 400 divided by 500 gives 0.8, which is 80.0 percent. |
| 2 | Newton third law, action and reaction | The seat pushes the crew forward and they press back with an equal and opposite force. |
| 3 | Mass stays the same while weight changes with gravity | Mass is the amount of matter, and weight is the pull of gravity on it. |
| 4 | About 183 seconds | 55000000 divided by 300000 gives about 183 seconds. |
| 5 | About 366 seconds | One way is 183 seconds, so a round trip is 366 seconds. |
| 6 | About 264880 km | The radius is 42157 km, and 2 pi r gives about 264880 km. |
| 7 | About 3.07 km per second | 264880 divided by 86400 gives about 3.07 km per second. |
| 8 | About 9.46 hundred million km | 30 times 365 times 86400 gives 946080000 km, about 9.46 hundred million km. |
| 9 | About 17633 years | 9.46 trillion km divided by 17 gives about 556 billion seconds, roughly 17633 years. |
| 10 | The Sun is a star that shines by itself, while planets do not shine and orbit a star | A star shines by its own nuclear reactions, and the Sun is the star at the centre of our system. |
04 What to do after marking
- After marking, redo only the wrong items and write down which step went wrong (formula, unit, or misread number).
- Repeat the same item two days later; move to the next paper only when both attempts are correct.
- Parents only need the answer and note columns; there is no need to explain every item.
Paper four separates light years, gravity and rocket propulsion in your head.Tutor Registration →
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