O Level Physics 5054, topic 5.2.1
Detection of radioactivity: past paper questions
9 Cambridge O Level Physics 5054 questions on Detection of radioactivity (5.2.1) 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
- 49
- Average per question
- 5.4 marks
- Largest question
- 11 marks
By type: Multiple choice 4 · Structured 5
How hard the questions are
- Recall0
- Apply3
- Analyse3
- Not banded3
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
- describeApply4 questions
state the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features
- explainAnalyse3 questions
set out purposes or reasons / make the relationships between things clear / say why and/or how and support with relevant evidence
- measureApply3 questions
- stateRecall3 questions
express in clear terms
- calculateApply2 questions
work out from given facts, figures or information
- drawApply2 questions
- show thatApply1 question
- suggestAnalyse1 question
apply knowledge and understanding to situations where there are a range of valid responses in order to make proposals / put forward considerations
Where the questions come from
By year
- 20262
- 20251
- 20243
- 20233
By session
- May/June8
- Oct/Nov1
By paper
- Paper 14
- Paper 25
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 37Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram
During a radioactivity experiment, the background reading is 28 counts per minute.
- Try this questionQuestion 8May/June 2026, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram
The isotope iodine-131 is used in the treatment of cancer. During treatment, iodine-131 is absorbed by the cancer cells. Beta particles emitted from iodine-131 destroy the cancer cells.
- Try this questionQuestion 10May/June 2023, paper 21Structured8 marksHas a diagram
Carbon-14 is an isotope of carbon. It undergoes radioactive decay with a half-life of 6000 years. The age of a sample of wood is found using the carbon-14 that it contains.
- Try this questionQuestion 9May/June 2024, paper 22Structured9 marks
Alpha particles are sometimes emitted from the nuclei of radioactive elements. This emission is both random and spontaneous. Describe what is meant by ‘spontaneous’ emission.
- Try this questionQuestion 9May/June 2023, paper 22Structured7 marksHas a diagram
A radioactive source emits -particles, -particles and -radiation. State which type of radiation produces the strongest ionising effect.