A Level Physics 9702, topic 24.2
Production and use of X-rays: past paper questions
9 Cambridge A Level Physics 9702 questions on Production and use of X-rays (24.2) from 9 papers, 2023 to 2026. Open the paper or try a question free.
Practising builds a set from this topic, free with an account. One question opens straight away, with no account.
- Questions
- 9
- Papers
- 9
- Years
- 2023 to 2026
- Total marks
- 97
- Average per question
- 10.8 marks
- Largest question
- 13 marks
By type: Structured 9
What the syllabus asks
- explain that X-rays are produced by electron bombardment of a metal target and calculate the minimum wavelength of X-rays produced from the accelerating p.d.
- understand the use of X-rays in imaging internal body structures, including an understanding of the term contrast in X-ray imaging
- recall and use I = I0e–μx for the attenuation of X-rays in matter
- understand that computed tomography (CT) scanning produces a 3D image of an internal structure by first combining multiple X-ray images taken in the same section from different angles to obtain a 2D image of the section, then repeating this process along an axis and combining 2D images of multiple sections
How hard the questions are
- Recall0
- Apply2
- Analyse7
- 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
- explainAnalyse7 questions
set out purposes or reasons/make the relationships between things evident/provide why and/or how and support with relevant evidence
- calculateApply6 questions
work out from given facts, figures or information
- stateRecall6 questions
express in clear terms
- useApply5 questions
- determineApply4 questions
establish an answer using the information available
- completeApply2 questions
- describeApply2 questions
state the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features
- show thatApply2 questions
- contrastAnalyse1 question
- suggestAnalyse1 question
apply knowledge and understanding to situations where there are a range of valid responses in order to make proposals
Where the questions come from
By year
- 20262
- 20252
- 20242
- 20233
By session
- May/June6
- Oct/Nov3
By paper
- Paper 49
Questions on this topic
Showing 5 of 9, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.
- Try this questionQuestion 8May/June 2026, paper 41Structured13 marks
State what is meant by a photon.
- Try this questionQuestion 10Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured9 marksHas a diagram
State what is meant by contrast in an X-ray image.
- Try this questionQuestion 10Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured8 marks
Ultrasound and X-rays are both types of wave that are used in medical diagnosis to form images of internal body structures.
- Try this questionQuestion 6May/June 2025, paper 42Structured11 marksHas a diagram
Two parallel metal plates X and Y are separated by a distance of , as shown in Fig. 6.1. There is a vacuum between the plates. An electron is at rest at the centre of plate X. A potential difference (p.d.) of is applied across the plates.
- Try this questionQuestion 10May/June 2023, paper 42Structured9 marks
X-rays for use in medical diagnosis are produced in an X-ray tube. In the X-ray tube, charged particles are accelerated towards a metal target by an applied potential difference (p.d.). State the name of the charged particles that are accelerated by the applied p.d.