Download Sample Schedule 2012

NCEA Level 2 Earth and Space Science 91192 (2.6) — page 1 of 4
Question Two
Expected Coverage
A Giant Molecular Cloud formed where the Sun
was formed at the centre where gravity was at a
maximum. The rest of the mass formed a
protoplanetary disk out of which the rest of the
solar system bodies were formed such as
planets, moons etc. The solar currents formed by
the spinning disk mean that planets can form in
different parts of the protoplanetary disk.
Inner planets formed close to the location of the
sun in the protoplanetary disk. They formed from
compounds that had high melting points as this
region was too hot for gaseous molecules like
water and methane. The compounds they formed
from (eg, metals [like iron, nickel, and aluminium]
and rocky silicates) are relatively rare in the
universe so the planets are small.
The four inner planets typically:
 have solid surfaces and thin or no
atmospheres
 have varied atmospheres ranging from no
atmosphere (Mercury) to a thin atmosphere
consisting mainly of nitrogen and oxygen
(Earth)
 spin slowly compared to the outer planets
 have no or few moons (Earth has 1 moon,
Mars – 2)
 have no rings orbiting them.
Outer planets formed further away from the sun
in the protoplanetary disk where conditions were
cooler. This cool environment meant that volatile
icy compounds could remain solid. There is an
abundance of these compared to the high melting
point compounds (metals and silicates) so the
outer planets could grow big enough to capture
hydrogen and helium (eg termed the gaseous
giants).
The four outer planets typically:
 are made up of gases largely, perhaps with a
much smaller solid or liquid centre
 have similar atmospheres consisting mainly of
hydrogen and helium, with methane present
on Uranus and Neptune
 spin quickly
Achievement
Merit
Describes the
stages in the
formation of
moons and
planets
Explains the
stages in the
formation of
moons and
planets
AND
AND
describes the
relative sizes of
the inner and
outer planets
explains the
relative sizes of
the inner and
outer planets
OR
OR
describes the
composition or
other features of
the inner and
outer planets
explains the
composition or
other features of
the inner and
outer planets.
Excellence
Explains in detail
the formation of,
and the relative
sizes, of the inner
and outer planets,
(and their moons)
AND
explains in detail
the composition,
and other
features, of the
inner and outer
planets.
NCEA Level 2 Earth and Space Science 91192 (2.6) — page 2 of 4
 have numerous orbiting moons, eg 63 moons
for Jupiter, 27 for Uranus
 all have orbiting rings of thin discs of rock and
dust mainly, with Saturn’s ring the most visible.
Not Achieved
NØ
No response; no relevant evidence.
N1
States moons and planets formed in giant molecular cloud (GMC).
N2
States moons and planets formed in GMC of dust and gas.
Describes the stages in the formation of moons and planets
AND
A3
describes the relative sizes of the inner and outer planets
OR
describes the composition/other features of the inner and outer planets.
Achievement
Describes the stages in the formation of moons and planets
AND
A4
describes the relative sizes of the inner and outer planets
AND
describes the composition/other features of the inner and outer planets.
Explains the stages in the formation of moons and planets
AND
M5
explains the relative sizes of the inner and outer planets (and their moons)
OR
explains the composition/other features of the inner and outer planets
Merit
Explains the stages in the formation of moons and planets
AND
M6
explains the relative sizes of the inner and outer planets
AND
explains the composition/other features of the inner and outer planets.
Explains in detail the formation of, and the relative sizes, of the inner and outer planets
E7
AND
explains in detail the composition and other features of the inner and outer planets
Explains in detail the formation of, and the relative sizes, of the inner and outer planets,
(and their moons)
Excellence
E8
AND
explains in detail the composition and other features of the inner and outer planets
linked to the temperature at which they were formed.
NCEA Level 2 Earth and Space Science 91192 (2.6) — page 3 of 4
Question Three
Expected Coverage
Red Giant:
 Luminosity – 10 – 100 x sun
 Temperature 2500 – 5000 K
 Spectral class G – M
Achievement
Describes the
characteristics of red
giants on the
Hertzsprung-Russell
diagram
OR
White dwarf:
 Luminosity – 10 – 10 000 times
dimmer than sun
 Temperature 7500 – 30 000K
 Spectral Class – O – F.
describes the
characteristics of
white dwarfs on the
Hertzsprung-Russell
diagram.
Merit
Excellence
Explains how the
characteristics of red
giants are linked to
their position on the
Hertzsprung-Russell
diagram
Explains in detail how
the characteristics of
red giants are linked
to their position on the
Hertzsprung-Russell
diagram
OR
OR
explains how the
characteristics of
white dwarfs are
linked to their position
on the HertzsprungRussell diagram.
explains in detail how
the characteristics of
white dwarfs are
linked to their position
on the HertzsprungRussell diagram.
Red giants are bright cool stars that
have exhausted all the Hydrogen in
their core. Gravity causes the core to
contract and the outer layer of the
star expands fusing Helium. This
expansion increases the surface area
of the star. Because of the increase
in surface area the temperature of
the surface is low compared to the
high luminosity and the star sits in an
area on the HR diagram that is
unusual with high luminosity but low
temperature.
White Dwarfs are the leftover hot
core of planetary nebula. They do
not have any nuclear fuel so cool
down over time. This core is
extremely dense and so White
Dwarfs have a low surface area and
a high mass and a high temperature
as the star has a small surface area
that heat energy can be lost from.
The position on the HR diagram
shows its high surface temperature
despite the fact it is a very dim star.
Not Achieved
Achievement
NØ
No response; no relevant evidence.
N1
States AT LEAST ONE feature of BOTH star types.
N2
States TWO features for ONE star but not the other.
A3
Describes how the characteristics of red giants are linked to their position on the
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
OR
describes how the characteristics of white giants are linked to their position on the
NCEA Level 2 Earth and Space Science 91192 (2.6) — page 4 of 4
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
A4
Describes how the characteristics of red giants are linked to their position on the
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
AND
describes how the characteristics of white giants are linked to their position on the
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
M5
Explains how the characteristics of red giants are linked to their position on the
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
OR
explains how the characteristics of white dwarfs are linked to their position on the
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
Merit
M6
Explains how the characteristics of red giants are linked to their position on the
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram in terms of surface area and temperature
AND
explains how the characteristics of white dwarfs are linked to their position on the
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram in terms of surface area and temperature.
E7
Explains in detail how the characteristics of red giants are linked to their position on the
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram in terms of the stated properties eg gravity causing
expansion of surface area and temperature
OR
explains in detail how the characteristics of white dwarfs are linked to their position on
the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram in terms of the stated properties eg fuel, surface area,
and temperature.
Excellence
E8
Explains in detail how the characteristics of red giants are linked to their position on the
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram in terms of the stated properties eg gravity causing
expansion of surface area and temperature
AND
explains in detail how the characteristics of white dwarfs are linked to their position on
the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram in terms of the stated properties eg fuel, surface area,
and temperature.