The three types of nuclear emission: past paper questions

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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 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 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 12Multiple choice1 mark

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

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

  Which row correctly describes an example of radioactive decay?

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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 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 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 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 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 35Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

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

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  The diagram shows $\beta$-particles being directed between the poles of a magnet. In which direction will the particles be deflected?

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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 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 22Multiple choice1 mark

  An $\alpha$-particle and a $\beta$-particle have the same kinetic energy. Why does the $\alpha$-particle have a larger ionising effect than the $\beta$-particle as it passes through air?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  Why are beta-particles deflected more strongly than alpha-particles when they enter an electric field?

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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 36Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two beams of radiation, P and S, enter an electric field, as shown.

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2024, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  The products of the decay of a nucleus of a radioactive isotope are a nucleus and radiation which is emitted. What is the nature of the products?

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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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• Question 36May/June 2026, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  $\alpha$-particles, $\beta$-particles and $\gamma$-radiation are emitted from radioactive substances. Which emissions are deflected in both magnetic and electric fields?

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Which change takes place in the nucleus when it decays by beta ($\beta$) emission?

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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 9Oct/Nov 2023, paper 43Structured10 marks

  For each application of radioactive isotopes, state and explain which type of radioactive emission is suitable and suggest an appropriate half-life for the isotope.

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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 34Oct/Nov 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A radioactive source emits $\alpha$-particles, $\beta$-particles and $\gamma$-rays into a vacuum where there is a magnetic field. The magnetic field acts perpendicularly into the plane of the paper.

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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 35May/June 2023, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Which change occurs in the nucleus of a radioactive atom during $\beta$-emission?

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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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