Radioactivity: past paper questions

Where the questions come from

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

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

  Try this question
• 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?

  Try this question
• 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?

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

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

  Try this question
• 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.

  Try this question
• 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?

  Try this question
• 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.

  Try this question
• 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.

  Try this question
• 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.

  Try this question
• 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.

  Try this question
• 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.

  Try this question
• 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.

  Try this question
• 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 $70\mu \text{g}$.

  Try this question
• 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.

  Try this question
• 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 (${}_{92}^{238}\text{U}$).

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

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

  Try this question
• 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.

  Try this question
• 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?

  Try this question
• Question 39May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Four types of ionising radiation are listed. ● alpha particles ● beta particles ● X-rays ● gamma rays Which types of radiation can be emitted from the unstable nuclei of a radioactive material?

  Try this question
• 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.

  Try this question
• 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?

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

  What is the nuclear reaction that powers the Sun?

  Try this question
• Question 36May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The nucleus of an atom emits an alpha-particle. How do the proton number and nucleon number change?

  Try this question
• Question 36May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  In an electric field, a beta ($\beta$)-particle follows the path shown. Which path does an alpha ($\alpha$)-particle travelling at the same speed follow?

  Try this question
• Question 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 question
• Question 37May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows how the thickness of paper is measured during manufacture. If the sheet is too thick, fewer beta-particles can reach the detector. Why are beta-particles used for this purpose?

  Try this question
• Question 38May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  An isotope has a half-life of $6000\text{ years}$. How much time passes before the count rate due to emissions from a sample of the isotope decreases to $\frac{1}{16}$ of the initial value?

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

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

  Try this question
• 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.

  Try this question
• Question 22May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which radioactive isotope can be used for measuring cracks or flaws in metal components?

  Try this question