Medical physics — AS & A Level Physics (9702) questions by topic
Medical physics questions compare ultrasound and X-ray production for diagnostic imaging, describe how reflected ultrasound pulses reveal internal structures, and explain how a piezoelectric crystal generates ultrasound in a transducer, worth from 7 to 12 marks.
Calculate, describe and explain top the command words in this A Level Physics topic, with state and deduce also common: describe a mechanism in full rather than name it. 8 real questions from 2023 to 2025 papers make up this page. Submitting each attempt for instant marking flags a photon-energy equation misapplied to a p.d. value, or a percentage-absorbed figure left un-subtracted from 100, before either error becomes a habit.
What examiners look for
- A significant minority of weaker candidates confuse X-ray production with positron emission tomography and give the positron as their answer.
- Examiners note many struggle to articulate that the energy of emitted X-ray photons comes from the kinetic energy of the accelerated electrons.
- A common mistake is treating the accelerating potential difference as the energy itself and equating it directly to hc divided by wavelength.
- Reports flag candidates who correctly find a percentage transmitted but fail to subtract it from 100 to reach the percentage absorbed.
- A recurring criticism is imprecise wording, such as saying 'most' ultrasound is transmitted when the data demand 'almost all'.
May–June 2025, Paper 44
Describe how the piezoelectric crystal in a transducer generates ultrasound waves for use in medical diagnosis.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 42
Describe how reflected ultrasound pulses may be used to obtain diagnostic information about internal structures.
Answer this question and get it marked →February–March 2023, Paper 42
Ultrasound is used to produce diagnostic information about internal body structures. Explain how ultrasound waves are detected.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 41
Table 8.1 shows some data relating to the properties of air, gel and body tissue. The data are given to three significant figures. The table gives, for air: speed of sound 340 m…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 42
X-rays for use in medical diagnosis are produced in an X-ray tube. In the X-ray tube, charged particles are accelerated towards a metal target by an applied potential difference…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 41
Ultrasound and X-rays are both types of wave that are used in medical diagnosis to form images of internal body structures. Complete Table 10.1 to state, for each type of wave:…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 42
Fluorine-18 (F-18, proton number 9) is a radioactive nuclide that is used as a tracer in positron emission tomography (PET scanning). Fluorine-18 decays to a nuclide of oxygen (O,…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 43
Ultrasound and X-rays are both types of wave that are used in medical diagnosis to form images of internal body structures. Complete Table 10.1 to state, for each type of wave:…
Answer this question and get it marked →Other AS & A Level Physics topics
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