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O Level Physics 5054, topic 5.2.4

Fission and fusion: past paper questions

10 Cambridge O Level Physics 5054 questions on Fission and fusion (5.2.4) from 9 papers, 2023 to 2025. Mostly multiple choice. Open the paper or try a question free.

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Questions
10
Papers
9
Years
2023 to 2025
Total marks
45
Average per question
4.5 marks
Largest question
11 marks

By type: Multiple choice 6 · Structured 4

How hard the questions are

  • Recall0
  • Apply0
  • Analyse4
  • Not banded6

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

  • stateRecall4 questions

    express in clear terms

  • explainAnalyse3 questions

    set out purposes or reasons / make the relationships between things clear / say why and/or how and support with relevant evidence

  • describeApply2 questions

    state the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features

  • drawApply1 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

  • 20253
  • 20243
  • 20234

By session

  • May/June8
  • Oct/Nov2

By paper

  • Paper 16
  • Paper 24

Questions on this topic

Showing 9 of 10, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.

  • Question 38May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

    During fission, a nucleus of uranium-235 (U-235) absorbs one neutron to produce two daughter nuclei and three neutrons. Krypton-92 (Kr-92) is one of the daughter nuclei and it contains 92 nucleons. How many nucleons does the other daughter nucleus contain?

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  • Question 9Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured10 marks

    A stable star in a distant galaxy has a mass that is more than 15 times the mass of the Sun. State the name of the nuclear reaction that occurs at the centre of the star and describe this nuclear reaction.

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  • Question 8Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured9 marks

    Uranium-235 (92235U) is the isotope of uranium that is used as the fuel in a nuclear power station. The isotope of uranium that is most abundant in nature is uranium-238 (92238U).

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  • Question 39May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

    Nuclear fusion is one source of energy. What is nuclear fusion?

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  • Question 40May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

    What is the nuclear reaction that takes place in stable stars?

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  • Question 8May/June 2025, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

    Fig. 8.1 is a diagram of a nuclear reactor. Nuclear fission occurs within the fuel rods which become hotter as a result. The thermal energy is transferred to the coolant circulating around the rods.

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  • Question 40May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

    What is the nuclear reaction that powers the Sun?

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  • Question 37May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

    In a fission reactor, which particle causes a uranium-235 nucleus to split?

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  • Question 38May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

    What is the purpose of moderators in nuclear reactors?

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