Nuclear physics: past paper questions

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Four statements about an atom are listed. 1 The atom has a nucleus surrounded by positively charged electrons. 2 Most of the atom is empty space.

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row identifies the positive and negative particles in the atom?

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

  Which particles are in the nucleus of a large atom?

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• Question 38Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The nuclide notation of a certain isotope of element Q is ${}_Z^R\text{Q}$. What is the total number of protons, neutrons and electrons in a neutral atom of this isotope?

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

  Alpha ($\alpha$) particles and beta ($\beta$) particles are emitted during radioactive decay. Which particle has the weaker ionising effect and which has the weaker penetrating power?

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

  Most household smoke detectors contain a sample of an isotope of americium. The battery in a smoke detector is replaced very frequently, but the sample of the isotope of americium does not need to be replaced. Why does the americium isotope not need to be replaced?

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

  Which statement about the nuclide notation ${}_Z^R\text{X}$ is correct?

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• Question 36May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The table shows the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in four particles. Which row shows the overall charge on the particle?

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

  Which nuclide is produced when thorium-223, ${}_{90}^{223}\text{Th}$, emits an alpha-particle?

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  During a radioactivity experiment, the background reading is 28 counts per minute.

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• Question 38Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The isotope radon-222 has a half-life of $3.8\text{ days}$. Which statement about a sample containing $1.0\text{ mg}$ of radon-222 is correct?

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• Question 37May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  In the alpha-particle scattering experiment, a beam of alpha-particles is aimed at a thin sheet of gold in a vacuum.

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A wire is placed at right angles to a uniform magnetic field. There is a current in the wire and it experiences a force. Beams of alpha-particles, beta-particles and neutrons are fired into the magnetic field in the same direction as the conventional current in the wire.

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• Question 8May/June 2026, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A radioactive source emits alpha particles, beta particles and gamma radiation. The radiation emitted from the radioactive source causes ionisation. State one harmful effect of ionising radiation on living things.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  The nuclide notation for the radioactive isotope radon-222 is ${}_{86}^{222}\text{Rn}$. An atom of radon-222 decays by the emission of an alpha particle ($\alpha$-particle). Describe how the composition of an atom of radon-222 differs from that of an atom of radon-224.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured8 marks

  The nuclide notation for the radioactive isotope hydrogen-3 is ${}_1^3\text{H}$. Explain why hydrogen-3 cannot decay by the emission of alpha particles.

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The half-life of a radioactive isotope is $2.5\text{ minutes}$. This isotope is the only radioactive isotope in a radioactive sample. Between time $t=0$ and $t=7.5\text{ minutes}$, the mass of this isotope in the sample decreases by $70\mu \text{g}$.

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• Question 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.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  The element lithium has several different isotopes. State one way in which the compositions of the atoms of all lithium isotopes are the same.

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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 (${}_{92}^{235}\text{U}$) 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 (${}_{92}^{238}\text{U}$).

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• Question 35May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Each diagram shows the nucleus of an atom. Which diagrams show isotopes of the same element?

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  The isotope thorium-230 (${}_{90}^{230}\text{Th}$) decays by alpha particle ($\alpha$-particle) emission. Describe the composition of an $\alpha$-particle.

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• Question 9Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured10 marks

  In space, an interstellar cloud of dust and gas collapses to form a protostar. The cloud contains hydrogen. Describe the energy transfers that take place as the cloud collapses and forms the protostar.

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• Question 37May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Alpha particles are directed at a thin gold foil. Only a very small proportion of the alpha particles are deflected through very large angles. Which fact about the nuclei of the gold atoms is not a conclusion of this experiment?

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  The isotope iodine-131 emits two types of nuclear radiation. Gamma radiation is one of the types emitted. A sample of iodine-131 produces a narrow beam of radiation which passes into a magnetic field.

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• Question 37May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The graph shows the results of an experiment to measure the count rate of a radioactive isotope. What is the half-life of the isotope?

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• Question 34May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The results of a scattering experiment show that a very small nucleus contains most of the matter in an atom.

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

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

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