Nuclear physics — IGCSE Sciences - Co-Ordinated (0973) questions by topic
Nuclear physics questions ask which materials stop alpha, beta and gamma radiation, the nuclear equation for tritium's beta-minus decay, half-life from a halving decay curve, and the unknown numbers in a uranium alpha-decay equation, worth from 1 to 11 marks in this IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences set.
Identify, calculate and state top the command words, with explain and complete also frequent: complete a nuclide equation by balancing both mass and proton numbers. 20 real questions from 2023 to 2025 papers make up this page. Submit each attempt for instant marking so a proton-number or nucleon-number balancing slip is caught before it affects every decay-equation question.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
A teacher handles a radioactive source with tongs that are 10 cm long. Using the tongs protects the teacher from one type of ionising radiation. Which type of radiation from the…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
A scientist works with a radioactive source that emits gamma (gamma)-rays. The scientist takes several precautions. Which precaution does not give the scientist any protection? A…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 21
Which surface is the best absorber of thermal radiation? A dull black B dull white C shiny black D shiny white
Answer this question and get it marked →Which statement about background radiation is correct? A All of it comes from the ground. B None of it comes from the air. C Only people who fly long distances are exposed to it.…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 22
Which surface reflects the most thermal radiation? A a black, dull surface B a black, shiny surface C a white, dull surface D a white, shiny surface
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 42
In a nuclear power station, the process of nuclear fission is used to generate electrical power. Describe the process of nuclear fission.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 11
A radioactive material has a half-life of 4.0 days. The rate of emission of radiation from a sample of the material is 32 emissions per minute. What was the rate of emission from…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 12
The graph shows the decay curve for a radioactive substance (emissions per minute against time/hours, starting at 800 and halving every 2.0 hours). [Decay curve: emissions per…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 22
A uranium nucleus decays by emitting an alpha-particle. The nuclide equation shows this decay: X/92 U - 234/Y Th + alpha-particle. What are the numbers X and Y? A X 234, Y 90 B X…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 32
Doctors use ionising and non-ionising radiations in hospitals. Table 3.1 lists some radiations: alpha, beta, gamma (ionising tick given), ultrasound (cross given), X-rays. Put a…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 42
The element strontium has many naturally occurring isotopes. Table 9.1 shows the half-lives of four unstable isotopes: strontium-82 (25.4 days), strontium-83 (1.35 days),…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 41
Tritium (³₁H) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that undergoes beta-minus (β⁻) decay. Write a nuclear equation for the beta-minus decay of tritium.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 11
A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 3.0 days. A sample contains 4000 atoms of this isotope. How many atoms of the isotope remain after 6.0 days? A 0 B 500 C 1000 D 2000
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
The diagram shows how the count rate for a radioactive isotope varies with time, decaying with a half-life of 15 hours. [Decay curve: count rate (counts/second) vs time/hours.]…
Answer this question and get it marked →The diagram represents three types of ionising radiation L, M and N directed towards a sheet of paper, a sheet of aluminium foil and a block of lead, showing whether each type…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 21
A radioactive nucleus 238/92 U decays into a thorium (Th) nucleus by emitting an alpha-particle. What is the symbol for the thorium nucleus formed? A 234/90 Th B 234/92 Th C…
Answer this question and get it marked →The diagrams show a beam of beta-particles passing into an electric field and another beam of beta-particles passing into a magnetic field. In the electric field the positive…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 41
A student investigates the penetrating abilities of ionising radiation using the equipment in Fig. 12.1 (source, shielding material, detector and counter). Table 12.1 gives counts…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 42
Table 12.1 shows information about three types of ionising radiation (nature, relative ionising effect, relative penetrating ability): alpha (nature ?, ionising effect high,…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 21
Three types of ionising radiation (alpha, beta and gamma) enter a magnetic field at right angles to the field. Which types of radiation are deflected? A alpha and beta only B…
Answer this question and get it marked →Other IGCSE Sciences - Co-Ordinated topics
- Motion, forces and energy (77)
- Electricity and magnetism (65)
- Practical skills (60)
- Organic chemistry (40)
- Waves (40)
- Atoms, elements and compounds (29)
- Organisms and their environment (28)
- Stoichiometry (24)
- Chemical reactions (22)
- The Periodic Table (22)
- Human nutrition (21)
- Reproduction (21)