# Topic Questions: 171 understand the controversy over the age and ultimate fate of the universe associated with the value of the Hubble constant and the possible existence of dark matter. — WPH15 Astrophysics and Cosmology > 19 WPH15 Astrophysics and Cosmology topic questions (38 marks) on 171 understand the controversy over the age and… — 14 papers, 2021–2026. Open the exact… - Canonical HTML: https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/astrophysics-and-cosmology/171-understand-the-controversy-over-the-age-and-ultimate-fate-of-the-universe/ - Markdown mirror: https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/astrophysics-and-cosmology/171-understand-the-controversy-over-the-age-and-ultimate-fate-of-the-universe/index.md --- Edexcel IAL · Physics · WPH15 · Astrophysics and Cosmology 19 WPH15 Astrophysics and Cosmology topic questions are tagged to this syllabus point across 14 papers (2021–2026). Only the parts whose knowledge graph matches this syllabus statement are counted, and the table shows which parts of each question are involved. - 19 topic questions - 14 papers - 38 tagged marks - 6.3% of topic questions - 5.2% of topic marks - 2021–2026 - 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 14 WPH15 papers across 2021–2026, contributing 19 topic questions and 38 marks.** The most recent appearance is WPH15/01 January 2026. That equals 6.3% of the 303 topic questions and 5.2% 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-5) | **Q5** Characteristics of an Open Universe - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2026 Q5 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=33df4133-3f97-49c4-8770-848b232eb7b1&question_id=fed52ca7-a1bf-4d86-aada-d90b0cc1bfd0&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2026) | | [**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 ((a)) | 2 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-3) | **Q3** Critical Density of the Universe - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2026 Q3 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=f63db731-6514-40da-90c9-5232288471cb&question_id=58e27eb8-3e73-4224-b556-19aa591665af&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 | 2 of 4 parts ((b)(ii), (c)) | 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) | | [**WPH15/02** October 2025 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2025-october-wph15-02/#q-4) | **Q4** Hubble Constant and Age of Universe - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2025 Q4 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=e7442241-a09d-4872-a697-6e37dca804e8&question_id=954f226b-6951-45f0-b8ce-c8df91fc1995&source_detail=WPH15%2F02+October+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-7) | **Q7** Hubble Constant and Age of Universe - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2025 Q7 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=40c335c3-e98a-43c8-b5d1-d1abedfaca1a&question_id=e0581ebe-f7b2-41e8-93d2-1c3d6c071335&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-7) | **Q7** Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 5 Oct 2024 Q7 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=3e10632c-bdcc-44a6-afc4-5f4f7a30978e&question_id=952d2881-4cfc-43fb-b1c4-305ea64817e8&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-18) | **Q18** Kepler's Third Law & Dark Matter - Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 5 Jun 2024 Q18 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((b)(ii)) | 4 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-18) | **Q18** Astrophysics and Cosmology - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2024 Q18 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((c)) | 4 of 11 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=81ae8d95-9845-43d2-85aa-56edeba0f606&question_id=29f24309-77ef-4797-a253-2a2308af967b&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2024) | | [**WPH15/01** June 2023 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2023-june-wph15-01/#q-1) | **Q1** Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 5 June 2023 Q1 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=25ca8d3d-f529-419a-8ab4-22f4c43251b4&question_id=337eea45-c3d7-450a-8be1-462179a8ae5f&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+June+2023) | | [**WPH15/01** January 2023 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2023-january-wph15-01/#q-16) | **Q16** Dark Matter and Fate of the Universe - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2023 Q16 | FRQ | 2 of 3 parts ((a), (c)) | 5 of 7 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=79fd249d-5274-48b7-a2fe-e660c6fd21a0&question_id=9d44a638-ed3c-4d2c-a61b-e5001c15e74b&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2023) | | [**WPH15/01** June 2022 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2022-june-wph15-01/#q-12) | **Q12** Hubble Constant Conversion and Age of Universe - Edexcel IAL Physics Jun 2022 Q12 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((b)) | 2 of 6 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=9a093fb4-7c1b-4987-9e36-33b3e20c2b25&question_id=082c7130-9f77-4980-879f-33fca8459db8&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 | 2 of 3 parts ((a)(ii), (b)) | 4 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** October 2021 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2021-october-wph15-01/#q-17) | **Q17** Trigonometric Parallax and Age of the Universe - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2021 Unit 5 Q17 | FRQ | 1 of 2 parts ((b)) | 4 of 7 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=85f00adf-61bf-4290-b7e1-556838a91d6f&question_id=4ad14482-ee62-4213-a3d0-18636c78f3de&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-2) | **Q2** Hubble Constant History - Edexcel IAL Physics Jun 2021 Q2 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=ab093dfb-339d-4a8a-9997-6d539dfdc6b8&question_id=9510a065-e598-480f-9501-5309d1c71d1e&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-2) | **Q2** Cosmology - dark matter properties | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=2e0b1233-9e48-4222-bc71-6c120258396f&question_id=7b6b4ab9-db3d-43ab-b4dd-bc8e074b6a60&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2021) | ## 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?** 16 question stems cover this subtopic across 14 papers, but only 19 tagged parts and 38 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 2021–2026. 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/171-understand-the-controversy-over-the-age-and-ultimate-fate-of-the-universe/