Nuclear physics — AS & A Level Physics (9702) questions by topic
Nuclear physics here spans beta-plus decay of fluorine-18, the meaning of spontaneous decay, why alpha-particle energies are discrete while beta emission spans a continuous energy range, and counting protons, neutrons and electrons in a charged uranium atom, worth from 1 to 13 marks.
State, deduce and calculate top the command words, with explain and identify also frequent: explain what happens inside a nucleus during beta-plus emission, not merely name the particle. This A Level Physics page holds 37 real questions from 2023 to 2025 papers. Submitting each attempt for instant marking flags vague pronoun use or an answer given to two significant figures instead of three, immediately.
What examiners look for
- Weaker candidates sometimes forget to give an explanation as part of their response.
- A recurring criticism is responses using the word 'it' repeatedly without clarifying which nucleus is meant.
- Examiners note candidates vaguely refer to 'some' particles being deflected rather than stating that only a very small proportion are.
- A common mistake is stating gamma-radiation has no charge or mass without giving its actual composition.
- Strong answers correctly deduce a hadron's quark composition, most commonly three up quarks each of charge plus two-thirds e.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
Which statement explains why alpha-particles have discrete energies, but beta-particles have a continuous range of energies? A Beta-particles have a much smaller mass than…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
Two neutral atoms are isotopes of the same element. Which statement about the atoms is correct? A They have a different number of neutrons and a different number of electrons. B…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 13
Four diagrams show a nucleus colliding with a particle. Which diagram shows a collision that is NOT possible? A A nucleus gains a neutron and emits two neutrons. B A nucleus gains…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 14
A uranium atom with a charge of +2e has a nucleon number of 235 and a proton number of 92. e is the elementary charge. What is the total number of protons, neutrons and electrons…
Answer this question and get it marked →A nucleus W of a radioactive isotope emits a β⁻ particle and forms nucleus X. Nucleus X emits an α-particle to form nucleus Y. Nucleus Y emits a β⁻ particle to form nucleus Z.…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 41
Define the activity of a radioactive source.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 42
Radioactive decay is a spontaneous process. State the meaning, in this context, of the term spontaneous.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 43
Define activity of a radioactive sample.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 44
The deuterium nucleus (²₁H) has a mass defect of 0.002388 u. The helium-4 nucleus (⁴₂He) has a mass defect of 0.030377 u. Helium-4 is formed from deuterium in a nuclear reaction…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 41
Define half-life of a radioactive isotope.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 42
State what is meant by the binding energy of a nucleus.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 43
Define half-life of a radioactive isotope.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 11
The isotope fluorine-18, 18/9 F, undergoes beta-plus decay to form a stable isotope. How many neutrons are there in a nucleus of the stable isotope? A 7 B 8 C 9 D 10
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 13
A magnesium nucleus 23/12 Mg decays by emitting two particles. The resulting nucleus is sodium 23/11 Na. Which two particles are emitted? A alpha-particle, antineutrino B…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 21
Potassium-40 (40/19 K) undergoes beta-minus decay to form a nuclide of element X. Particle Z is emitted during the decay. The equation for the decay is shown. 40/19 K - P/Q X +…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 41
Fluorine-18 (fluorine-18 nuclide, proton number 9, nucleon number 18) decays by beta-plus (beta-plus) emission with a half-life of 110 minutes. State the name of the beta-plus…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 42
Radioactive decay is both random and spontaneous. State what is meant by random.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 43
Fluorine-18 (fluorine-18, proton number 9) decays by beta-plus (beta+) emission with a half-life of 110 minutes. State the name of the beta-plus particle.
Answer this question and get it marked →February–March 2023, Paper 12
Americium-241 is a radioactive nuclide used in smoke detectors. It undergoes alpha-decay to form nuclide X. This decay may be represented by the equation: 241/95 Am - A/Z X +…
Answer this question and get it marked →February–March 2023, Paper 22
Nuclei X and Y are different isotopes of the same element. Nucleus X is unstable and emits a beta-plus particle to form nucleus Z. By comparing the number of protons in each…
Answer this question and get it marked →February–March 2023, Paper 42
Plutonium-238 (Pu-238, Z = 94, A = 238) is unstable and undergoes alpha decay. Complete the equation to show the decay of plutonium-238: 238/94 Pu - ... U + ... alpha.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 11
A uranium nucleus has 92 protons and 143 neutrons. The nucleus emits a total of 3 alpha-particles and 4 beta-minus particles to form nucleus X. How can nucleus X be represented? A…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
What are isotopes? A nuclei of different elements with the same number of neutrons B nuclei of different elements with the same number of nucleons C nuclei of the same element…
Answer this question and get it marked →A neutron (1/0 n) is fired at a 235/92 U nucleus. The neutron is absorbed by the nucleus which then splits to form nuclei of 141/56 Ba and 92/36 Kr. What is the number of free…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 13
The table contains data for four different nuclei P, Q, R and S. P: 5 neutrons, nucleon number 10. Q: 6 neutrons, nucleon number 10. R: 6 neutrons, nucleon number 14. S: 8…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 21
An isolated stationary nucleus X decays by emitting an alpha-particle to form a nucleus Y. Nucleus Y and nucleus Z are isotopes of the same element. By comparing the number of…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 22
Nucleus P and nucleus Q are isotopes of the same element. Nucleus Q is unstable and emits a beta-minus particle to form nucleus R. For nuclei P and Q, compare the number of…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 41
Carbon-11 is radioactive and decays by beta-plus emission to form boron-11. Carbon-11 has a half-life of 20 minutes. Boron-11 is stable. Define half-life.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 42
May–June 2023, Paper 43
Carbon-11 is radioactive and decays by beta-plus emission to form boron-11. Carbon-11 has a half-life of 20 minutes. Boron-11 is stable. Define half-life.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 11
Which nuclide is formed when carbon-10 (proton number 6) undergoes beta-plus decay? A carbon-11 (proton number 6) B carbon-9 (proton number 6) C boron-10 (proton number 5) D…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 12
Two nuclides are different isotopes of the same element. Which statement about the nuclides is correct? A Neutral atoms of the nuclides have the same number of electrons. B Nuclei…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 13
The table shows the number of nucleons and the total number of particles (protons, neutrons and electrons) in neutral atoms of four nuclides W, X, Y and Z. number of nucleons…
Answer this question and get it marked →When a sample of a radioactive isotope decays by alpha-particle emission, the alpha-particles emitted have a single discrete energy. When a sample of a radioactive isotope decays…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 21
The results of the alpha-particle scattering experiment led to the development of the nuclear model for the atom. State the results that suggested that most of the mass of the…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 41
State what is meant by nuclear fusion.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 43
State what is meant by nuclear fusion.
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