John Griffiths Astro Pages > GCSE Astronomy

John Griffiths Astro Pages

GCSE Astronomy — Detailed course breakdown. Course specifications contd.

GCSE Astronomy > [Introduction] > Detailed Course Breakdown > Coursework

1.23 Construct diagrams to show the variation in daylight length in a year given appropriate data.

1.24 Describe how a horizontal and vertical sundial is graduated and the reason for the angle of the gnomon.

1.25 Explain the seasonal variations in the rising and the setting of the Sun through the year.

1.26 Explain the terms mean sun and mean solar time.

1.27 Explain the equation of time (apparent solar time – mean solar time), and perform simple calculations.

2 The Moon and the Sun

• The Moon

• The Sun

• Eclipses

The Moon

Candidates should be able to:

2.1 State the approximate diameter of the Moon (3500 km) and its approximate distance from the Earth (380 000 km).

2.2 Explain that the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth as it orbits the Earth.

2.3 Explain why it is possible to observe more than 50% of the Moon’s surface from the Earth.

2.4 Explain the Moon’s phases, the shadow terminator and its effect on observations of visible lunar surface.

2.5 Describe the principal features of the Moon.

2.6 Describe the origins of lunar features, including craters, domes, maria, mountains, mascons, rilles and wrinkle ridges.

2.7 State the relative masses of the Earth and Moon and that the gravitational strength of the Earth is approximately six times that of the Moon.

The Sun

Candidates should be able to:

2.8 Describe the dangers of direct observation of the Sun and simple techniques for safe observation.

2.9 State that the Sun is a star.

2.10 State that the Sun’s energy is produced by nuclear reactions in its interior, converting hydrogen into helium.

2.11 State the approximate diameter of the Sun (1.4 million km), its approximate distance from the Earth (150 million km) and its surface temperature (5700 K).

2.12 Describe the solar corona, photosphere and chromosphere.

2.13 Describe the temperature distribution through the layers of the Sun and the high temperature of the corona.

2.14 Describe the influence of the Sun’s magnetic field on the appearance of the corona.

2.15 Describe the appearance of sunspots (umbra, penumbra and groups), prominences and solar flares.

2.16 Describe the long-term drift of sunspots, and the sunspot cycle.

2.17 Recognise the main characteristics of the Fraunhofer Spectrum and its uses, for example in determining the chemical composition of the Sun.

2.18 Describe the solar wind and explain the influence of the solar wind on the Van Allen belts and aurorae.

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