Atoms, nuclei and radiation: past paper questions

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• Question 38Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The diagram shows a sequence of radioactive decays involving three $\alpha$-particles and a ${\beta }^{-}$ particle. $${}_{93}^{237}\text{Np}\stackrel{\alpha }{\to }\text{Q}\stackrel{{\beta }^{-}}{\to }\text{R}\stackrel{\alpha }{\to }\text{S}\stackrel{\alpha }{\to }\text{T}$$ What is nuclide T?

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The isotope fluorine-18, ${}_9^{18}\text{F}$, undergoes ${\beta }^{+}$ decay to form a stable isotope. How many neutrons are there in a nucleus of the stable isotope?

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• Question 38Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two alpha-particles with the same kinetic energy are moving towards, and are then deflected by, a gold nucleus. Which diagram could show the paths of the two alpha-particles?

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The number of electrons in a neutral atom of an isotope of plutonium, ${}_{94}^{239}\text{Pu}$, is changed to produce a charged atom (ion) W. W has an overall charge of $+1.6\times {10}^{-19}\text{C}$.

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• Question 40Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  An isotope of boron decays to beryllium by ${\beta }^{+}$ emission. Which particle is emitted in addition to the ${\beta }^{+}$ particle?

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which nuclide is formed when ${}_6^{10}\text{C}$ undergoes ${\beta }^{+}$ decay?

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• Question 38Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the rest mass of a beta-particle?

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• Question 38Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Two nuclides are different isotopes of the same element. Which statement about the nuclides is correct?

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The charge-to-mass ratio $r$ of a particle is given by the equation shown.

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• Question 39May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A nucleus undergoes ${\beta }^{+}$ decay. A neutrino and two other particles are produced in this decay. Which other two particles are produced?

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured7 marks

  Potassium-40 (${}_{19}^{40}\text{K}$) undergoes ${\beta }^{-}$ decay to form a nuclide of element X. Particle Z is emitted during the decay. The equation for the decay is shown.

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• Question 38Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The table shows the number of nucleons and the total number of particles (protons, neutrons and electrons) in neutral atoms of four nuclides W, X, Y and Z.…

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  Compare an $\alpha$‑particle with a ${\beta }^{+}$ particle in terms of their masses and charges.

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  When a sample of a radioactive isotope decays by $\alpha$-particle emission, the $\alpha$-particles emitted have a single discrete energy.

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• Question 6May/June 2026, paper 22Structured9 marks

  One of the conclusions from the $\alpha$-particle scattering experiment was that the atom is mostly empty space. State the observation from the experiment that provides evidence for this conclusion.

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured9 marks

  The nuclide ${}_1^3\mathrm{H}$ is an isotope of hydrogen that is called tritium. Determine the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons in a neutral atom of tritium.

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2024, paper 23Structured8 marks

  Complete Table 7.1 to show the charges, in terms of the elementary charge $e$, on each of the flavours of quark and antiquark shown.

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured8 marks

  The results of the $\alpha$-particle scattering experiment led to the development of the nuclear model for the atom. State the results that suggested that most of the mass of the atom is concentrated in a very small region and most of the atom is empty space.

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• Question 5May/June 2026, paper 23Structured10 marks

  State what is meant by a meson.

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Structured9 marks

  State what is meant by a fundamental particle.

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• Question 37May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Hydrogen and deuterium can be represented by the nuclide symbols ${}_1^1\text{H}$ and ${}_1^2\text{H}$ respectively. What is a difference between hydrogen and deuterium?

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured5 marks

  In the following list, underline all the particles that are not fundamental. antineutrino baryon nucleon positron

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 23Structured9 marks

  The nuclide ${}_1^3\text{H}$ is an isotope of hydrogen that is called tritium.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  The nuclide ²³₁₂Mg is an isotope of magnesium that undergoes β^+ decay to form a new nuclide X according to the equation ²³₁₂Mg arrow ^(.....).....X +…

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• Question 39May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement explains why alpha-particles have discrete energies, but beta-particles have a continuous range of energies?

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• Question 37May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Nuclide X with proton number $Z$ undergoes ${\beta }^{+}$ decay to form nuclide Y. The decay may be represented by the equation shown.

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• Question 38May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Two neutral atoms are isotopes of the same element. Which statement about the atoms is correct?

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• Question 38May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What are isotopes?

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• Question 40May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A nucleus of carbon-11 contains 6 protons and 5 neutrons. The nucleus of carbon-11 decays by ${\beta }^{+}$ emission. What is the total number of up and down quarks in the product of the decay of this nucleus?

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• Question 40May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about radioactive decay is correct?

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