# Topic Questions: 160 be able to apply Newton's laws of motion and universal gravitation to orbital motion — WPH15 Astrophysics and Cosmology > 34 WPH15 Astrophysics and Cosmology topic questions (107 marks) on 160 be able to apply Newton's laws of motion and… — 19 papers, 2020–2026. Open the exact… - Canonical HTML: https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/astrophysics-and-cosmology/160-be-able-to-apply-newton-s-laws-of-motion-and-universal-gravitation-to-orbital/ - Markdown mirror: https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/astrophysics-and-cosmology/160-be-able-to-apply-newton-s-laws-of-motion-and-universal-gravitation-to-orbital/index.md --- Edexcel IAL · Physics · WPH15 · Astrophysics and Cosmology 34 WPH15 Astrophysics and Cosmology topic questions are tagged to this syllabus point across 19 papers (2020–2026). Only the parts whose knowledge graph matches this syllabus statement are counted, and the table shows which parts of each question are involved. - 34 topic questions - 19 papers - 107 tagged marks - 11.2% of topic questions - 14.8% of topic marks - 2020–2026 - Syllabus 2018–current - [All WPH15 Astrophysics and Cosmology topic questions](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/astrophysics-and-cosmology/) - [All paper codes](https://www.examsci.com/topics/) Core finding **This Astrophysics and Cosmology syllabus point appears in 19 WPH15 papers across 2020–2026, contributing 34 topic questions and 107 marks.** The most recent appearance is WPH15/01 January 2026. That equals 11.2% of the 303 topic questions and 14.8% of the 725 marks tagged to Astrophysics and Cosmology. Only parts tagged to this subtopic are counted, so a four-part question can contribute one item and one part's marks. The table lists every matching question, its tagged parts and marks, with a link back to the paper page. Sessions are newest first, so the statement can be traced back through the full paper history. ## Topic questions by session Newest sessions first. Parts and marks count only the parts tagged to this subtopic; “x of y parts” shows how much of the question is tagged elsewhere. Select the paper cell to open the matching question on the paper page, or use **Go to Practice Hub** to answer that exact question in the Interactive Practice Hub. | Paper | Question | Type | Parts | Marks | Difficulty | Practice | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [**WPH15/01** January 2026 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2026-january-wph15-01/#q-17) | **Q17** International Space Station Orbit and Gravity - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2026 Q17 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((b)) | 5 of 11 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=33df4133-3f97-49c4-8770-848b232eb7b1&question_id=f790b89b-f785-43da-ba71-45d1494a082c&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2026) | | [**WPH15/02** January 2026 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2026-january-wph15-02/#q-19) | **Q19** Space Station Orbit and Re-entry - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2026 Q19 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((a)(i)) | 4 of 9 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=f63db731-6514-40da-90c9-5232288471cb&question_id=64244b49-9efb-4455-aa51-6e3f0f3b6446&source_detail=WPH15%2F02+January+2026) | | [**WPH15/02** January 2026 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2026-january-wph15-02/#q-22) | **Q22** Orbital Velocity and Dark Matter - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2026 Q22 | FRQ | 3 of 4 parts ((a), (b)(i), (b)(ii)) | 5 of 8 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=f63db731-6514-40da-90c9-5232288471cb&question_id=635cfa06-cb77-4708-97d2-4f88d8549142&source_detail=WPH15%2F02+January+2026) | | [**WPH15/01** October 2025 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2025-october-wph15-01/#q-21) | **Q21** Astrophysics - Distance Measurements - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2025 Q21 | FRQ | 1 of 5 parts ((c)(i)) | 4 of 13 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=a7fbae2d-76be-4ac0-9bd4-df3ed119c92f&question_id=51fc83df-efa9-4328-ac5d-078b85d5f03e&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+October+2025) | | [**WPH15/02** October 2025 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2025-october-wph15-02/#q-21) | **Q21** Stellar Distance and Orbital Calculations - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2025 Q21 | FRQ | 1 of 5 parts ((c)(i)) | 4 of 13 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=e7442241-a09d-4872-a697-6e37dca804e8&question_id=01bbaf42-92ef-4c98-895e-a20e232e1e4a&source_detail=WPH15%2F02+October+2025) | | [**WPH15/01** June 2025 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2025-june-wph15-01/#q-13) | **Q13** Satellite Orbit and Gravity - Edexcel IAL Physics June 2025 Q13 | FRQ | 1 of 2 parts ((b)) | 4 of 7 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=2e30fb2a-dfff-4c32-b30f-fefebd92c451&question_id=53c4e86e-6f61-41d4-805e-68aa96ee5abe&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+June+2025) | | [**WPH15/01** January 2025 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2025-january-wph15-01/#q-14) | **Q14** Solar Mass and Surface Gravitational Field Strength - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2025 Q14 | FRQ | 1 of 2 parts ((a)) | 3 of 6 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=40c335c3-e98a-43c8-b5d1-d1abedfaca1a&question_id=61c03c3f-a943-43fb-88bb-9d6a4e3a2787&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2025) | | [**WPH15/01** October 2024 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2024-october-wph15-01/#q-18) | **Q18** Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 5 Oct 2024 Q18 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((a)) | 4 of 8 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=3e10632c-bdcc-44a6-afc4-5f4f7a30978e&question_id=ab4ec9ae-bcc8-4f75-8b66-dc5d4848b9c1&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+October+2024) | | [**WPH15/01** June 2024 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2024-june-wph15-01/#q-6) | **Q6** Orbital Motion of Pluto - Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 5 Jun 2024 Q6 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=fd4de767-0a74-4fd7-9f81-6fb7daf58d01&question_id=f0283980-1482-431a-a245-7dc4c54b2658&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+June+2024) | | [**WPH15/01** June 2024 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2024-june-wph15-01/#q-18) | **Q18** Kepler's Third Law & Dark Matter - Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 5 Jun 2024 Q18 | FRQ | 2 of 3 parts ((a), (b)(i)) | 5 of 9 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=fd4de767-0a74-4fd7-9f81-6fb7daf58d01&question_id=450e06b2-73da-4723-ba3d-3e95b334f0fd&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+June+2024) | | [**WPH15/01** January 2024 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2024-january-wph15-01/#q-6) | **Q6** Astrophysics and Cosmology - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2024 Q6 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=81ae8d95-9845-43d2-85aa-56edeba0f606&question_id=a30e5d65-78f7-4df2-af5e-3683cca62bd7&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2024) | | [**WPH15/01** January 2024 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2024-january-wph15-01/#q-16) | **Q16** Astrophysics and Cosmology - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2024 Q16 | FRQ | 1 of 2 parts ((b)) | 4 of 8 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=81ae8d95-9845-43d2-85aa-56edeba0f606&question_id=64c1601b-9da3-4370-8bb6-ad8225469ac2&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2024) | | [**WPH15/01** January 2024 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2024-january-wph15-01/#q-17) | **Q17** Oscillations - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2024 Q17 | FRQ | 1 of 2 parts ((a)) | 2 of 7 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=81ae8d95-9845-43d2-85aa-56edeba0f606&question_id=4e598be4-863c-41ca-878f-a8a65d5a40bd&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2024) | | [**WPH15/01** October 2023 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2023-october-wph15-01/#q-17) | **Q17** Orbital Motion of Makemake - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2023 Q17 | FRQ | 1 of 2 parts ((b)) | 6 of 8 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=c6d9493b-ab37-4b2a-967c-30f17fd52e71&question_id=c7fa620a-7bd6-49e1-b9a7-05fad27f24e5&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+October+2023) | | [**WPH15/01** June 2023 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2023-june-wph15-01/#q-21) | **Q21** Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 5 June 2023 Q21 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((b)) | 3 of 11 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=25ca8d3d-f529-419a-8ab4-22f4c43251b4&question_id=6302d228-3a1a-44a0-a16e-4d87fda2c645&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+June+2023) | | [**WPH15/01** October 2022 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2022-october-wph15-01/#q-17) | **Q17** Orbital Motion and Gravity of Ceres - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2022 Q17 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((a)(ii)) | 4 of 9 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=11a7a1e1-92c0-4c27-923f-84fabaf236e5&question_id=d3251562-6638-4ec6-9079-d85f14047989&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+October+2022) | | [**WPH15/01** June 2022 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2022-june-wph15-01/#q-16) | **Q16** Orbital Relations and Potential Energy of Jupiter - Edexcel IAL Physics Jun 2022 Q16 | FRQ | 2 of 3 parts ((a)(i), (a)(ii)) | 8 of 11 on the paper | Hard | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=9a093fb4-7c1b-4987-9e36-33b3e20c2b25&question_id=10f33334-a09e-440f-b15e-591ebb06ba19&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+June+2022) | | [**WPH15/01** January 2022 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2022-january-wph15-01/#q-16) | **Q16** Galaxy Rotation Curves and Dark Matter - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2022 Q16 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((a)(i)) | 3 of 7 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=ba0935d7-8bd2-4880-a14a-07ef68b24285&question_id=54602972-f532-44ee-af3d-588605ab07ba&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2022) | | [**WPH15/01** January 2022 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2022-january-wph15-01/#q-18) | **Q18** Kepler's Law of Harmonies - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2022 Q18 | FRQ | 3 parts ((a), (b), (c)) | 8 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=ba0935d7-8bd2-4880-a14a-07ef68b24285&question_id=f15908cf-fa8c-454a-ac24-4b25ee9c2ff7&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2022) | | [**WPH15/02** January 2022 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2022-january-wph15-02/#q-16) | **Q16** Orbital Dynamics and Gravitational Potential Energy of the Moon - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2022 Q16 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((a)) | 3 of 8 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=23304130-a638-4c40-b130-1921931842df&question_id=54142fbf-13a5-4859-a5d1-0f64ff79cc9f&source_detail=WPH15%2F02+January+2022) | | [**WPH15/01** October 2021 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2021-october-wph15-01/#q-20) | **Q20** Evolution of the Sun - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2021 Unit 5 Q20 | FRQ | 1 of 5 parts ((c)) | 3 of 12 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=85f00adf-61bf-4290-b7e1-556838a91d6f&question_id=f1867e3f-b3a0-422e-8984-81e95541254e&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+October+2021) | | [**WPH15/01** October 2021 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2021-october-wph15-01/#q-21) | **Q21** Weather Satellites and Gravitational Potential - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2021 Unit 5 Q21 | FRQ | 2 of 4 parts ((b), (c)) | 7 of 11 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=85f00adf-61bf-4290-b7e1-556838a91d6f&question_id=1520e607-f341-49b9-8237-8f2911b2eeb1&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+October+2021) | | [**WPH15/01** June 2021 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2021-june-wph15-01/#q-16) | **Q16** Starlink Satellite Orbital Calculations - Edexcel IAL Physics Jun 2021 Q16 | FRQ | 3 parts ((a), (b), (c)) | 9 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=ab093dfb-339d-4a8a-9997-6d539dfdc6b8&question_id=8d39dea6-ddab-4995-9e00-d1ede99a346e&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+June+2021) | | [**WPH15/01** January 2021 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2021-january-wph15-01/#q-17) | **Q17** Gravitational Fields - space station Salyut 1 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((a)(i)) | 4 of 9 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=2e0b1233-9e48-4222-bc71-6c120258396f&question_id=7224b396-fccf-4ad2-a3b5-dd02876432e0&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2021) | | [**WPH15/01** October 2020 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2020-october-wph15-01/#q-12) | **Q12** Doppler Shift due to Exoplanet - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2020 Q12 | FRQ | 1 of 2 parts ((a)) | 3 of 5 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=1a3931f7-4a72-41eb-af5a-0d315b2148a6&question_id=7c20b143-ed58-4b30-925b-687201386176&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+October+2020) | ## Related topic questions in Astrophysics and Cosmology - [154 understand that a gravitational field (force field) is defined as a region where a mass experiences a force](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/astrophysics-and-cosmology/154-understand-that-a-gravitational-field-force-field-is-defined-as-a-region-where-a/) — 5 question items · 4 papers — 13 marks · 2021–2026 - [155 understand that gravitational field strength is defined as $g=\frac{F}{m}$ and be able to use this equation](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/astrophysics-and-cosmology/155-understand-that-gravitational-field-strength-is-defined-as-g-frac-f-m-and-be-able/) — 5 question items · 5 papers — 12 marks · 2020–2026 - [156 be able to use the equation $F=\frac{Gm_{1}m_{2}}{r^{2}}$ (Newton's law of universal gravitation)](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/astrophysics-and-cosmology/156-be-able-to-use-the-equation-f-frac-gm-1-m-2-r-2-newton-s-law-of-universal/) — 24 question items · 15 papers — 62 marks · 2020–2026 - [157 be able to derive and use the equation $g=\frac{Gm}{r^{2}}$ for the gravitational field due to a point mass](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/astrophysics-and-cosmology/157-be-able-to-derive-and-use-the-equation-g-frac-gm-r-2-for-the-gravitational-field/) — 23 question items · 18 papers — 50 marks · 2020–2026 - [158 be able to use the equation $V_{grav}=\frac{-Gm}{r}$ for a radial gravitational field](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/astrophysics-and-cosmology/158-be-able-to-use-the-equation-v-grav-frac-gm-r-for-a-radial-gravitational-field/) — 29 question items · 19 papers — 61 marks · 2020–2026 - [159 be able to compare electric fields with gravitational fields](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/astrophysics-and-cosmology/159-be-able-to-compare-electric-fields-with-gravitational-fields/) — 5 question items · 5 papers — 11 marks · 2020–2025 ## Topic question rules and edge cases **How many topic questions cover this syllabus point?** 25 question stems cover this subtopic across 19 papers, but only 34 tagged parts and 107 marks belong to it. Other parts of the same questions are assessed under different statements and are excluded from this page. **Which papers include this subtopic?** The table lists every matching session from 2020–2026. Each row links to the question anchor on the paper page, where the full paper context and practice entry point are available. **Why can one question appear under several subtopics?** The parts of one question can assess different syllabus statements. Each part is counted under its own subtopics, so the same question stem can appear on several subtopic pages while each page lists only the parts and marks tagged to that statement. **Can I practise these questions with AI marking?** Yes. Open a paper from the table and use the Interactive Practice Hub entry point. The page itself is static HTML so search engines and retrieval agents can read the full question list without executing JavaScript. --- Full page with native tables, bar charts and Practice Hub links: https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/astrophysics-and-cosmology/160-be-able-to-apply-newton-s-laws-of-motion-and-universal-gravitation-to-orbital/