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Atoms and isotopes: AQA GCSE Physics questions

Every AQA GCSE Physics exam question on 4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,653 questions

  1. Q05.1

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marks4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 05.1: Describe what is meant by ‘isotopes’ of an element. [2 marks]

  2. Q07.1

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 mark4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 07.1: Why do scientists sometimes change the model used to describe the structure of the atom? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Existing models use ideas that are old fashi

  3. Q03.5

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 03.5: Which nucleus in Figure 6 has the smallest mass number? [1 mark] Tick () one box. A B C D

  4. Q03.6

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 03.6: Which nucleus in Figure 6 has an atomic number of 4? [1 mark] Tick () one box. A B C D

  5. Q03.7

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marks4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 03.7: Which two nuclei in Figure 6 are isotopes of the same element? Give a reason for your answer. [2 marks] Nucleus and nucleus Reason

  6. Q03.8

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 03.8: Which model of the atom was replaced by the nuclear model? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Bohr model Plum pudding model Tiny spheres that cannot be divided

  7. Q03.9

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 03.9: What does the nuclear model state about the mass of an atom? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The mass of the atom is concentrated in the electrons. The mass of the a

  8. Q05.1

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marks4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 05.1: Carbon-14 and carbon-12 are isotopes of carbon. Compare the structure of an atom of carbon-14 with the structure of an atom of carbon-12. [3 marks]

  9. Q08.1

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marks4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 08.1: Draw one line from each particle to the year it was discovered. [2 marks] Particle Year of discovery Electron Neutron Nucleus Proton 1897 1911 1920 1932

  10. Q08.2

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marks4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes4.2.5 Static electricity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 08.2: Explain why alpha particle A takes the path shown in Figure 8. [2 marks]

  11. Q08.3

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marks4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes4.2.5 Static electricity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 08.3: Explain why the path of alpha particle B is more tightly curved than the path of alpha particle C. [2 marks]

  12. Q08.4

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 mark4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 08.4: What can be deduced about the atom from the paths taken by alpha particles D, E, F and G in Figure 8? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The atom contains a nucleus. Th

  13. Q08.5

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 mark4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 08.5: How is the Bohr model of the atom different from the nuclear model of the atom? [1 mark]

  14. Q08.6

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marks4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 08.6: Explain how an electron can move up and down between energy levels in an atom. [2 marks]

  15. Q02.1

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 02.1: Which particle in the atom was discovered first? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Electron Neutron Proton

  16. Q02.2

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marks4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 02.2: An alpha particle has a radius of 1.7 femtometres. The radius of a gold nucleus is 4.2 times larger than the radius of an alpha particle. Calculate the radius o

  17. Q02.3

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes4.4.2 Atoms and nuclear radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 02.3: Alpha particles are deflected by the gold nucleus. What are the charges on an alpha particle and a gold nucleus? [1 mark] Tick () one box. An alpha particle an

  18. Q02.6

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 02.6: Which model in Table 1 was developed first? [1 mark]

  19. Q02.7

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 02.7: Which model in Table 1 was developed last? [1 mark]

  20. Q03.1

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marks4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 03.1: Carbon-12 and carbon-14 are both isotopes of carbon. Complete the sentences. Choose answers from the box. [2 marks] alpha particles electrons neutrons protons T
All 33 questions on Atoms and isotopes, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q05.1 (2 marks): Describe what is meant by ‘isotopes’ of an element. [2 marks]
  2. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q07.1 (1 mark): Why do scientists sometimes change the model used to describe the structure of the atom? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Existing models use ideas that are old fashi
  3. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q03.5 (1 mark): Which nucleus in Figure 6 has the smallest mass number? [1 mark] Tick () one box. A B C D
  4. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q03.6 (1 mark): Which nucleus in Figure 6 has an atomic number of 4? [1 mark] Tick () one box. A B C D
  5. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q03.7 (2 marks): Which two nuclei in Figure 6 are isotopes of the same element? Give a reason for your answer. [2 marks] Nucleus and nucleus Reason
  6. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q03.8 (1 mark): Which model of the atom was replaced by the nuclear model? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Bohr model Plum pudding model Tiny spheres that cannot be divided
  7. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q03.9 (1 mark): What does the nuclear model state about the mass of an atom? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The mass of the atom is concentrated in the electrons. The mass of the a
  8. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q05.1 (3 marks): Carbon-14 and carbon-12 are isotopes of carbon. Compare the structure of an atom of carbon-14 with the structure of an atom of carbon-12. [3 marks]
  9. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q08.1 (2 marks): Draw one line from each particle to the year it was discovered. [2 marks] Particle Year of discovery Electron Neutron Nucleus Proton 1897 1911 1920 1932
  10. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q08.2 (2 marks): Explain why alpha particle A takes the path shown in Figure 8. [2 marks]
  11. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q08.3 (2 marks): Explain why the path of alpha particle B is more tightly curved than the path of alpha particle C. [2 marks]
  12. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q08.4 (1 mark): What can be deduced about the atom from the paths taken by alpha particles D, E, F and G in Figure 8? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The atom contains a nucleus. Th
  13. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q08.5 (1 mark): How is the Bohr model of the atom different from the nuclear model of the atom? [1 mark]
  14. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q08.6 (2 marks): Explain how an electron can move up and down between energy levels in an atom. [2 marks]
  15. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q02.1 (1 mark): Which particle in the atom was discovered first? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Electron Neutron Proton
  16. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q02.2 (2 marks): An alpha particle has a radius of 1.7 femtometres. The radius of a gold nucleus is 4.2 times larger than the radius of an alpha particle. Calculate the radius o
  17. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q02.3 (1 mark): Alpha particles are deflected by the gold nucleus. What are the charges on an alpha particle and a gold nucleus? [1 mark] Tick () one box. An alpha particle an
  18. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q02.6 (1 mark): Which model in Table 1 was developed first? [1 mark]
  19. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q02.7 (1 mark): Which model in Table 1 was developed last? [1 mark]
  20. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q03.1 (2 marks): Carbon-12 and carbon-14 are both isotopes of carbon. Complete the sentences. Choose answers from the box. [2 marks] alpha particles electrons neutrons protons T
  21. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q06.1 (1 mark): How many neutrons are there in a nucleus of atom A? [1 mark]
  22. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q06.2 (1 mark): Which two atoms in Figure 6 are the same element? [1 mark] Tick () one box. A and B A and C C and D D and E
  23. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q05.1 (1 mark): Which of the following is the same for all atoms of the same element? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Atomic number Mass number Neutron number
  24. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q05.2 (1 mark): Which of the following is different for isotopes of the same element? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Number of electrons Number of neutrons Number of protons
  25. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q02.5 (2 marks): Nuclear radiation can cause ionisation. Complete the sentences. Choose answers from the box. [2 marks] a negative an electron a neutron a positive a proton a ze
  26. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q04.1 (1 mark): Which discovery was the earliest? [1 mark] Tick () one box. A B C D
  27. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q04.2 (1 mark): Which discovery was the most recent? [1 mark] Tick () one box. A B C D
  28. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q04.3 (3 marks): The alpha particle scattering experiment led to the nuclear model of the atom. Figure 5 shows the paths of alpha particles travelling close to a gold nucleus. F
  29. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q04.4 (1 mark): The results of the alpha particle scattering experiment were reproducible. What does reproducible mean? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Another scientist repeats the
  30. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q01.4 (3 marks): The helium in the balloon has a mass of 0.00254 kg. The balloon has a volume of 0.0141 m3. Calculate the density of helium. Choose the correct unit from the box
  31. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q02 (6 marks): Scientists sometimes replace one scientific model with a different model. For example in the early 20th Century the plum pudding model of the atom was replaced
  32. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q09.4: When protactinium decays, a new element, X, is formed. Use information from Figure 12 and Figure 13 to determine the name of element X [1 mar
  33. Specimen, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10 (6 marks): Scientists sometimes replace one scientific model with a different model. For example, in the early 20th Century the plum pudding model of the atom was replaced

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