The nucleus: past paper questions

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• Question 35May/June 2026, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  In which process does a large nucleus split into two smaller nuclei, each about half the size of the original nucleus?

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An isotope of carbon has the nuclide notation ${}_6^{14}\text{C}$. What does the nucleus of one atom of this isotope contain?

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2024, paper 32Structured8 marks

  Name three types of nuclear emission from radioactive sources.

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  In $\alpha$-particle scattering, $\alpha$-particles are incident on a thin metal foil. Which row describes results from the experiment and a conclusion that the results lead to?

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• Question 34May/June 2026, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  In a nuclear fusion reaction, a hydrogen-2 nucleus joins with a hydrogen-3 nucleus to produce nucleus X and particle Y. $${}_1^2\mathrm{H}+{}_1^3\mathrm{H}\to \mathrm{X}+\mathrm{Y}$$ Which row identifies nucleus X and particle Y?

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• Question 33Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  ${}_{94}^{239}\text{Pu}$ is an isotope of plutonium. The nucleus can absorb a neutron and then split to form two other nuclei. Two nuclei that form are gold, ${}_{79}^{207}\text{Au}$, and phosphorus, ${}_{15}^{31}\text{P}$.

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2024, paper 33Structured7 marks

  State how a neutral atom becomes a positive ion.

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Which particle is absorbed by a nucleus to cause nuclear fission?

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• Question 10May/June 2026, paper 31Structured4 marksHas a diagram

  The nuclide notation for americium-241 is: ${}_{95}^{241}\text{Am}$. Determine the number of: protons in one nucleus of americium-241

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• Question 33Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  The arrow shows the path of an $\alpha$-particle travelling towards the centre of a gold nucleus. Which description of the path of the $\alpha$-particle after striking the gold nucleus is correct?

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  What happens in the process of nuclear fission?

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• Question 9May/June 2026, paper 32Structured7 marks

  Table 9.1 shows some features of three types of radioactive emission. The table is incomplete. Complete Table 9.1 by adding the missing information.

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A teacher writes the nuclide equation for a fusion reaction.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2024, paper 43Structured7 marks

  An isotope of boron is used in the treatment of cancer in the brain. Boron sticks to cancer cells in the brain. The isotope of boron is bombarded with neutrons then undergoes fission to form lithium and alpha-particles.

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement describes how nuclear energy is released by fission in a nuclear power station?

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• Question 9May/June 2026, paper 33Structured7 marks

  Table 9.1 shows some features of three types of radioactive emission. The table is incomplete.

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  Which change occurs in the nucleus of a radioactive atom when a beta-particle is emitted?

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• Question 33May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  What is the charge on a proton and what is the charge on a neutron?

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2023, paper 31Structured5 marksHas a diagram

  A nucleus of an isotope of actinium contains 89 protons and 136 neutrons. The chemical symbol for actinium is Ac. Complete the nuclide notation for this isotope of actinium.

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• Question 10May/June 2026, paper 41Structured9 marks

  Nuclear power stations use uranium as the fuel. An isotope of uranium has 92 protons and 143 neutrons in each nucleus. Complete the nuclide notation for this isotope.

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2025, paper 31Structured6 marks

  Radium is a radioactive element with the chemical symbol Ra. The proton number for radium is 88. Radium-223 is an isotope of radium that has a nucleon number of 223.

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• Question 35May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The nuclide notation of the isotope strontium-90 is ${}_{38}^{90}\text{Sr}$. Which statement is correct?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2023, paper 32Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 11.1 represents all the particles in a beryllium atom. The symbol for the element beryllium is Be. Give the nuclide notation for the isotope shown in Fig. 11.1.

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• Question 9May/June 2026, paper 42Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  Carbon-14 is the only radioactive isotope of carbon that occurs naturally. State one similarity and one difference in the composition of the nuclei of atoms of different isotopes of the same element.

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• Question 37May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  An isotope of krypton has an atomic number of 36 and a mass number of 78. What is the number of protons in a krypton nucleus?

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• Question 33May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Four statements about isotopes of a certain element are listed. Which statement about the isotopes must be correct?

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2023, paper 33Structured5 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 10.1 represents all the particles in a lithium atom. State the proton number (atomic number) of the lithium atom in Fig. 10.1.

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• Question 10May/June 2026, paper 42Structured8 marks

  Nuclear fission is the process used to transfer energy in a nuclear reactor in a power station. Describe the process which occurs when heavy nuclei undergo fission in a power station.

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• Question 33May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A nuclide of strontium is represented by ${}_{38}^{90}\text{Sr}$. Which row gives the number and location of the electrons in an atom of ${}_{38}^{90}\text{Sr}$?

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• Question 9Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured10 marks

  Many household smoke alarms contain a sample of the radioactive isotope americium-241 (Am). Americium-241 is the isotope of the element americium that has the nucleon number (mass number) 241.

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