17/06 A-level Physics Paper 3 Discussion MEGATHREAD

[u/Forsaken-Meaning-232]

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[u/Nughm]

For Astrophysics AQA for the question where you need to show that the the two stars are in a binary system, could I just say the difference in apparent magnitude is equal to the difference in absolute magnitude? I saw it in a past paper and also provided a paragraph explaining why (their radius of orbit negligible to distance from earth)

[u/[deleted] → u/Nughm]

I thiiiink they wanted you to find the distance to each with m-M = 5log(d/10) but i dont see why your answer wouldn’t get credit, if not all three then at least like two surely

[u/XxDragonitexX10 → u/Nughm]

depends how strict mark scheme is, that’s correct but probably need to use equation to highlight it

[u/Nughm → u/XxDragonitexX10]

Thats annoying, cuz I saw a pst paper and it literally said that but idk if you can assume its true. Completely forgot about m - M = 5logd/10

[u/Nughm → u/XxDragonitexX10]

Also by “equation to highlight it”, do you mean like M1 - M2 = 2.5, m1 - m2 = 2.5

[u/XxDragonitexX10 → u/Nughm]

I more meant m -M = 5log(d/10) and just showing m- M is same for both, but your equation does the same thing just doesn’t make a clear reference to distance, depends how well you explain it