A Level Physics 9702, topic 22.4

Energy levels in atoms and line spectra: past paper questions

3 Cambridge A Level Physics 9702 questions on Energy levels in atoms and line spectra (22.4) from 3 papers, 2023 to 2025. Open the paper or try a question free.

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Questions
3
Papers
3
Years
2023 to 2025
Total marks
30
Average per question
10 marks
Largest question
12 marks

By type: Structured 3

What the syllabus asks

  • understand that there are discrete electron energy levels in isolated atoms (e.g. atomic hydrogen)
  • understand the appearance and formation of emission and absorption line spectra
  • recall and use hf = E1 – E2

How hard the questions are

  • Recall0
  • Apply0
  • Analyse3
  • Not banded0

Derived from the command word Cambridge prints in each question, banded by a fixed table beside the syllabus's own definitions. A question printing no command word is unbanded: unknown, not middling.

Command words

  • explainAnalyse3 questions

    set out purposes or reasons/make the relationships between things evident/provide why and/or how and support with relevant evidence

  • calculateApply2 questions

    work out from given facts, figures or information

  • determineApply2 questions

    establish an answer using the information available

  • drawApply2 questions
  • completeApply1 question
  • show thatApply1 question

Where the questions come from

By year

  • 20251
  • 20241
  • 20231

By session

  • May/June2
  • Oct/Nov1

By paper

  • Paper 43

Questions on this topic

Showing 3 of 3, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.

  • Question 8Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured10 marksHas a diagram

    Fig. 8.1 shows the three lowest-frequency lines in the part of the emission spectrum for hydrogen that relates to electron transitions to the ground state (level n=1).

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  • Question 8May/June 2024, paper 42Structured12 marksHas a diagram

    Fig. 8.1 shows part of the emission spectrum of visible radiation emitted by hydrogen gas in a star in a distant galaxy. The galaxy is moving away from the Earth at a speed of 6.2×106 m s−1.

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  • Question 8May/June 2023, paper 42Structured8 marksHas a diagram

    Fig. 8.1 shows the lowest four energy levels of an electron in an isolated atom. Fig. 8.2 shows the lines in the emission spectrum of the atom that correspond to the transitions of the electron from n=3 to n=1 and from n=4 to n=1.

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