Radioactivity: past paper questions

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• Question 37May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Some sources of background radiation are natural and other sources are due to human activity. Which source is natural?

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows five atoms in a radioactive substance. The atoms each give out an $\alpha$-particle.

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  $\alpha$-particles, $\beta$-particles and $\gamma$-rays are emitted by radioactive nuclei when they decay. Which emissions can be deflected by an electric field?

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• Question 38May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Isotope X undergoes radioactive decay to produce nuclei of a different element. Which statement about isotope X must be correct?

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which type of radiation is measured using a detector connected to a counter?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a radioactive source, a thick aluminium sheet and a radiation detector. The radiation detector shows a reading greater than the background reading. Which type of radiation is being emitted by the source and detected by the detector?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The graph shows the count rate from a radioactive source over a period of time. What is the half-life of the source?

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• Question 38May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement is correct for an $\alpha$-particle?

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The half-life of the radioactive isotope caesium ${}_{55}^{137}\text{Cs}$ is 30 years. Starting with 30 g of the isotope, which mass of the isotope remains after 90 years?

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• Question 39May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about $\alpha$-particles and $\gamma$-rays is correct?

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row correctly describes an example of radioactive decay?

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  When the count rate from a radioactive source is measured, background radiation is taken into account. Which option shows only examples of nuclear background radiation?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Strontium-89 is a radioactive beta-emitter used to treat bone cancers.

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Radioactive decay results in the emission of $\alpha$-particles, $\beta$-particles and $\gamma$-radiation. Which types of emission result in a nucleus changing to that of a different element?

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the most effective precaution to reduce the risk when handling, storing or using a radioactive source that emits $\gamma$-rays?

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• Question 36May/June 2026, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a beam of beta particles entering a magnetic field. The direction of the magnetic field is into the page. In which direction is the beam of beta particles deflected?

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  An isotope of strontium decays by $\beta$ emission. It takes 87 hours for its activity to fall to $\frac{1}{8}$ of its original value. What is the half-life of the isotope?

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The half-life of carbon-14 is $5700\text{ years}$. An object containing carbon-14 has a count rate of $100\text{ counts / minute}$ when it is first formed. The graph shows how the count rate decreases over time.

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• Question 37May/June 2026, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  The equation shows the decay of radon to form polonium. ${}_{86}^{222}\text{Rn}\to {}_{84}^{218}\text{Po}+\text{X}$ What is X?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Alpha, beta and gamma emissions are compared. Alpha radiation is the ......1...... ionising as it has the ......2......

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  When measuring the emissions from a radioactive rock brought into the laboratory, a teacher mentions that background radiation must be taken into account. What is this background radiation?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which type of radioactive decay causes the nucleus of one element to change into the nucleus of another element?

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  How do the ionising effect and the penetrating ability of $\alpha$-particles compare with those of $\beta$-particles and $\gamma$-rays?

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• Question 35May/June 2026, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a beam of $\alpha$-particles, $\beta$-particles and $\gamma$-rays moving in a vacuum towards the space between a pair of charged plates. Which row shows the deflections of the different particles?

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Three statements about alpha ($\alpha$) particles and beta ($\beta$) particles are listed. 1 The magnitude of the charge on an $\alpha$-particle is twice the charge on a $\beta$-particle. 2 The mass of an $\alpha$-particle is large compared with the mass of a $\beta$-particle.

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Half-life is ......1...... for the ......2...... a sample of a radioactive isotope to halve.

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Radioactive materials must be handled in a safe way. What is not a safety procedure?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Radioisotope X decays to the stable isotope Y. The graph shows how the mass of Y present in a sample varies with time. Which time interval gives the half-life of X?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which properties must a radioisotope have for its radiation to make it suitable to kill bacteria in food?

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement correctly compares the properties of alpha-particles and beta-particles?

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