plumiQuarks and antiquarks: AQA A‑Level Physics questions
AQA A-Level Physics past-paper questions on 3.2.1.6 Quarks and antiquarks, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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All 44 questions on Quarks and antiquarks, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q09 (1 mark): [multiple choice] The following equation represents a strong interaction between particle X and a proton. 0 + p n + π → X What is the quark configuration of X?
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q01.3 (3 marks): Deduce, with reference to appropriate conservation laws, the quark structure of the K0 produced in this reaction. [3 marks] quark structure =
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q28 (1 mark): What is the number of down quarks and the number of up quarks in a nucleus of 19F 9 ? [1 mark] Number of down quarks Number of up quarks A 28 29 B 29 28 C 37 47
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q16 (1 mark): The quark structure of the antiparticle of the K+ meson is [1 mark] A us B ud C us D ds
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q01.1 (1 mark): Deduce the quark structure of a Λ0. [1 mark]
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q01.4 (4 marks): Deduce the quark structure of the Λ0 particle. [4 marks] quark structure of Λ0 =
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q12 (1 mark): Which statement is correct? [1 mark] A All strange particles are mesons. B Strange particles are always created in pairs. C Strangeness can only change in stron
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q13 (1 mark): Which combination of quarks is possible? [1 mark] A sd B sū C sūd D ud
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q01.1 (2 marks): Complete Table 1 to show the baryon number B, charge Q and strangeness S for the particles in this interaction. [2 marks] Table 1 π+ p Σ+ Y B 0 Q +1 +1 +1 S +1
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q01.2 (1 mark): Which particle in Table 1 has the quark structure uus? Tick () one box. [1 mark] π+ p Σ+ Y
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q09 (1 mark): Which row is correct? [1 mark] Name of particle Classification Quark structure A antineutron meson uu d B positive kaon baryon u s C antiproton baryon uu d D po
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q12 (1 mark): The quark combination of a particle is sū. Which is true for this particle? [1 mark] A It has a baryon number of 1 B It has a charge of −1.6 × 10–19 C. C It is
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q01.2 (1 mark): State the two possible quark configurations of a π0. [1 mark] 1 2
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q01.3 (2 marks): A student suggests that the kaon K0 and the anti-kaon K0 തതതത are the same particle. Discuss whether this suggestion is correct. [2 marks]
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q01.4 (6 marks): Some subatomic particles are classified as hadrons. There are two classes of hadrons. Discuss the nature of hadrons. Your answer should include: • the identifyi
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q08 (1 mark): What is the number of up quarks and down quarks in a Be 4 9 nucleus? [1 mark] Number of up quarks Number of down quarks A 11 16 B 13 14 C 14 13 D 16 11
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q03.1 (2 marks): In preparing for a PET scan of a patient’s brain, a small sample of a substance containing unstable nuclei is injected into the patient. A positron is emitted w
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q08 (1 mark): Which row gives a particle with its quark combination and category? [1 mark] Particle Quark combination Category A Negative pion dū baryon B Positive pion ud ha
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q11 (1 mark): The Σ0 baryon, composed of the quark combination uds, is produced through the strong interaction between a π+ meson and a neutron. π+ + n → Σ0 + X What is the q
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q01.3 (2 marks): Kaons are mesons that can be produced by the strong interaction between pions and protons. The equation shows a reaction in which a kaon and a lambda particle a
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q01.4 (1 mark): The kaon decays by the weak interaction. The equation shows an example of kaon decay. K0 →π++ π– State one feature of this decay that shows it is an example of
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q01.1 (1 mark): Deduce the name of particle X. [1 mark]
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q13 (1 mark): What interactions are involved in the production of a strange particle and its decay into non-strange particles? [1 mark] Production Decay A strong weak B stron
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q08 (1 mark): What is the quark structure for antiprotons? [1 mark] A uതdത B dതdതs̅ C dതdതuത D uതuതdത
- June 2016, PHYA1 (old spec), Q2(a) (1 mark): Which of the following is the quark composition of the positive kaon? Tick () the correct answer. [1 mark] if correct –us uus– us– d–d–s
- June 2015, PHYA1 (old spec), Q2(a)(iii) (3 marks): State the quark structure of the K–, K+ and the K0. [3 marks] K– K+ K0
- June 2015, PHYA1 (old spec), Q2(a)(iv) (3 marks): Strangeness is conserved in the interaction. Determine, explaining your answer, the quark structure of X. [3 marks]
- June 2014, PHYA1 (old spec), Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): What is the quark structure of the K+? [1 mark]
- June 2012, PHYA1 (old spec), Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): State the quark composition of a meson. (1 mark)
- June 2012, PHYA1 (old spec), Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): ( ) 1 (a) (iii) What is the quark composition of the K– meson? (1 mark)
- June 2012, PHYA1 (old spec), Q3(b) (1 mark): State the quark composition of a proton. (1 mark)
- January 2012, PHYA1 (old spec), Q1(a) (7 marks): The table gives information about some fundamental particles. Complete the table by filling in the missing information. (7 marks) particle quark structure charg
- January 2012, PHYA1 (old spec), Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): State the quark structure of an antibaryon. (1 mark)
- June 2011, PHYA1 (old spec), Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): State the quark structure of the pion π+. (1 mark)
- June 2011, PHYA1 (old spec), Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): The K+ kaon is a strange particle. Give one characteristic of a strange particle that makes it different from a particle that is not strange. (1 mark)
- June 2010, PHYA1 (old spec), Q1(d) (1 mark): Give the quark structure for a neutron and a proton. neutron proton (1 mark)
- January 2010, PHYA1 (old spec), Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): What is the quark structure of a baryon? (1 mark)
- January 2010, PHYA1 (old spec), Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): What is the quark structure of a meson? (1 mark)
- January 2010, PHYA1 (old spec), Q1(c) (2 marks): Complete the table below which lists properties of the antiproton. (2 marks) charge/C baryon quark number structure antiproton
- June 2009, PHYA1 (old spec), Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): How many quarks does the ∑ + particle contain? answer (1 mark)
- June 2009, PHYA1 (old spec), Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): How many of the quarks are strange? answer (1 mark)
- June 2008, PA01 (2008 spec), Q3(a) (3 marks): 3 (a) Determine the quark structure of these three mesons. K° " – " + (3 marks)
- June 2008, PA10 (2008 spec), Q7(a) (5 marks): 7 (a) (i) Complete the nuclear equation below. 2H 1 p + p → + + 7 (a) (ii) State the quark composition of a proton and of a 2H 1 nucleus. 7 (a) (iii) Describe,
- January 2008, PA01 (2008 spec), Q3(d) (1 mark): (d) Determine the quark structure of an antiproton, p. (1 mark)
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