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The nuclear atom and particle accelerators: Edexcel A‑Level Physics questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Physics exam question on The nuclear atom and particle accelerators (specification points 130–136), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,540 questions

  1. Q1

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 markThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 1: Which of the following was investigated by the large-angle alpha particle scattering experiment? A structure of an atom B structure of a nucleon C structure of

  2. Q15(d)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 markThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 15(d)(i): State why the neutron does not leave a track. (1)

  3. Q15(d)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    4 marksThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 15(d)(ii): The initial momentum of the positive pion is 1.1 × 10–19 N s. The scale of the diagram is 1 cm represents 15 cm. Determine the magnitude of the magnetic flux de

  4. Q18(a)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    4 marksThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 18(a): FRIB contains a linear accelerator. The initial section of the accelerator is shown. source a.c. supply Explain why the tubes get progressively longer. (4)

  5. Q18(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    4 marksThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 18(b)(i): Calculate the accelerating potential difference. (4) Potential difference =

  6. Q18(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    3 marksThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 18(b)(ii): Show that the uranium ions will reach a velocity of about 65% of the speed of light. (3)

  7. Q18(c)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marksThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 18(c): When a uranium ion hits a target at this speed the ion is likely to break up and produce smaller elements. One particular isotope produced in this way is 40 12M

  8. Q11(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    2 marksThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 11(a)(i): The magnetic flux density required to maintain the protons in a circular path increases as the kinetic energy of the protons increases. Explain why. (2)

  9. Q11(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    4 marksThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 11(a)(ii): Calculate the magnetic flux density required to maintain the protons in the LHC when the protons are travelling at a speed of 3.0 × 10 7 m s –1 . circumference

  10. Q11(b)

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    6 marksThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 11(b): Fifty years ago, fixed‑target collision experiments were carried out at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Centre (SLAC). In these experiments, high speed particle

  11. Q2

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 markThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 2: Which of the following could not be accelerated in a LINAC? A electron B helium atom C proton D uranium ion

  12. Q14(c)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    3 marksThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 14(c): Describe the role of the magnetic field in a particle detector. (3)

  13. Q14(d)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    4 marksThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 14(d): Explain how the diagram gives evidence that a particle or particles, other than the positron, were produced in this decay. (4)

  14. Q17(a)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    3 marksThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 17(a): Describe the model of the atom that Rutherford proposed as a result of this series of experiments. (3)

  15. Q1

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 markThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 1: One isotope of oxygen is 17 8O. Which row of the table shows the number of neutrons and the number of protons in a nucleus of 17 8O? Number of neutrons Number o

  16. Q8

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 markThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 8: Which row in the table describes the speed and potential energy of the α particle at point P on this path? Speed at P Potential energy at P A greatest greatest

  17. Q9

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 markThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 9: Which of the following can be concluded about a gold atom from the deflection of this α particle? A The atom contains electrons. B The atom has zero charge. C T

  18. Q15(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 markThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 15(a)(i): State why it can be concluded from the diagram that the delta particle is neutral. (1)

  19. Q15(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marksThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 15(a)(ii): Deduce the charge on the pion. (2)

  20. Q15(a)(v)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    3 marksThe nuclear atom and particle accelerators
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 15(a)(v): Explain how the momentum of the proton compares with the momentum of the pion. (3)
All 44 questions on The nuclear atom and particle accelerators, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): Which of the following was investigated by the large-angle alpha particle scattering experiment? A structure of an atom B structure of a nucleon C structure of
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q15(d)(i) (1 mark): State why the neutron does not leave a track. (1)
  3. June 2025, Paper 1, Q15(d)(ii) (4 marks): The initial momentum of the positive pion is 1.1 × 10–19 N s. The scale of the diagram is 1 cm represents 15 cm. Determine the magnitude of the magnetic flux de
  4. June 2025, Paper 1, Q18(a) (4 marks): FRIB contains a linear accelerator. The initial section of the accelerator is shown. source a.c. supply Explain why the tubes get progressively longer. (4)
  5. June 2025, Paper 1, Q18(b)(i) (4 marks): Calculate the accelerating potential difference. (4) Potential difference =
  6. June 2025, Paper 1, Q18(b)(ii) (3 marks): Show that the uranium ions will reach a velocity of about 65% of the speed of light. (3)
  7. June 2025, Paper 1, Q18(c) (2 marks): When a uranium ion hits a target at this speed the ion is likely to break up and produce smaller elements. One particular isotope produced in this way is 40 12M
  8. June 2025, Paper 3, Q11(a)(i) (2 marks): The magnetic flux density required to maintain the protons in a circular path increases as the kinetic energy of the protons increases. Explain why. (2)
  9. June 2025, Paper 3, Q11(a)(ii) (4 marks): Calculate the magnetic flux density required to maintain the protons in the LHC when the protons are travelling at a speed of 3.0 × 10 7 m s –1 . circumference
  10. June 2025, Paper 3, Q11(b) (6 marks): Fifty years ago, fixed‑target collision experiments were carried out at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Centre (SLAC). In these experiments, high speed particle
  11. June 2024, Paper 1, Q2 (1 mark): Which of the following could not be accelerated in a LINAC? A electron B helium atom C proton D uranium ion
  12. June 2024, Paper 1, Q14(c) (3 marks): Describe the role of the magnetic field in a particle detector. (3)
  13. June 2024, Paper 1, Q14(d) (4 marks): Explain how the diagram gives evidence that a particle or particles, other than the positron, were produced in this decay. (4)
  14. June 2024, Paper 1, Q17(a) (3 marks): Describe the model of the atom that Rutherford proposed as a result of this series of experiments. (3)
  15. June 2023, Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): One isotope of oxygen is 17 8O. Which row of the table shows the number of neutrons and the number of protons in a nucleus of 17 8O? Number of neutrons Number o
  16. June 2023, Paper 1, Q8 (1 mark): Which row in the table describes the speed and potential energy of the α particle at point P on this path? Speed at P Potential energy at P A greatest greatest
  17. June 2023, Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): Which of the following can be concluded about a gold atom from the deflection of this α particle? A The atom contains electrons. B The atom has zero charge. C T
  18. June 2023, Paper 1, Q15(a)(i) (1 mark): State why it can be concluded from the diagram that the delta particle is neutral. (1)
  19. June 2023, Paper 1, Q15(a)(ii) (2 marks): Deduce the charge on the pion. (2)
  20. June 2023, Paper 1, Q15(a)(v) (3 marks): Explain how the momentum of the proton compares with the momentum of the pion. (3)
  21. June 2023, Paper 3, Q4 (6 marks): *4 Alpha particle scattering experiments led Rutherford to propose the nuclear model of the atom. Alpha particles were directed towards a thin gold foil. Descri
  22. June 2022, Paper 1, Q4 (1 mark): The electrons are produced by heating a metal filament. Which of the following is the name of this process? A ionisation B scattering C the photoelectric effect
  23. June 2022, Paper 1, Q10 (1 mark): Which of the following conclusions could not be made as a result of these investigations? A The atom is mostly empty space. B The atom is neutral. C The nucleus
  24. June 2022, Paper 1, Q15(a) (6 marks): Explain how an electron is accelerated in a linac. (6)
  25. June 2022, Paper 1, Q15(b) (2 marks): The electron leaves the accelerator with a high energy. Explain why electrons need high energies to investigate the structure of a proton. (2)
  26. November 2021, Paper 1, Q15(a) (4 marks): Describe how the model of the atom changed, as a consequence of these experiments. (4)
  27. November 2021, Paper 1, Q15(c) (4 marks): Rutherford also carried out the experiment with aluminium (27 13Al) foil. The aluminium foil had the same thickness as the gold foil and the alpha particles had
  28. November 2021, Paper 1, Q16(a) (6 marks): Explain how observations and measurements from the photograph can be used to establish information about the lambda particle. (6)
  29. October 2020, Paper 1, Q14(b) (4 marks): A plan view of the arrangement is shown. ball bearing hill wooden track The wooden track is moved to different positions and the ball bearing is released. Descr
  30. October 2020, Paper 1, Q18(a) (2 marks): Deduce whether the antineutrino is charged, giving two reasons for your decision. (2)
  31. October 2020, Paper 1, Q18(d) (4 marks): The momentum of the pion just before it decays is 9.1 × 10 −20 N s. Determine the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field which acts in the detector and sta
  32. October 2020, Paper 3, Q7(a) (2 marks): Explain how electrons from the source become a beam of high-energy electrons. (2)
  33. October 2020, Paper 3, Q7(d) (1 mark): In his original experiments, Thompson determined the specific charge of a range of particles. His results indicated that the specific charge of an electron is a
  34. June 2018, Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): Electric and magnetic fields can be used in particle accelerators. Which row in the table correctly describes the use of electric and magnetic fields in the par
  35. June 2018, Paper 1, Q15(c)(ii) (3 marks): The beams of protons are contained within a ring of superconducting magnets. Calculate the momentum of a proton in a beam. (3) magnetic field strength = 8.3 T c
  36. June 2018, Paper 1, Q15(c)(iii) (1 mark): State the total momentum of the products of the collision between the two beams of protons. (1) Total momentum =
  37. June 2017, Paper 1, Q8 (1 mark): The alpha particle scattering experiment led to a number of observations and conclusions. Which row in the table gives a correct observation and corresponding c
  38. June 2017, Paper 1, Q13(a) (6 marks): Explain how the cyclotron produces the high‑energy proton beam. (6)
  39. June 2017, Paper 1, Q13(b) (2 marks): Conventional treatment may use X‑rays to deliver energy to a tumour. The graph shows the variation of energy delivered with penetration below the skin for a bea
  40. June 2017, Paper 1, Q13(c) (2 marks): Developing new cancer treatments is expensive. Give two possible reasons why money should be provided for the development of this new cancer treatment. (2)
  41. June 2017, Paper 1, Q16(e) (3 marks): The Λ0 particle cannot be directly observed in particle experiments, however some of the decay products can. Explain why the Λ0 particle cannot be directly obse
  42. June 2017, Paper 3, Q13(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by isotopes. (1)
  43. June 2017, Paper 3, Q13(d)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the radius of the circular path. (2) Radius =
  44. June 2017, Paper 3, Q13(d)(iii) (3 marks): The diagram shows the path of the chlorine-35 ions in the field. Chlorine-37 ions enter the magnetic field with the same velocity. uniform magnetic field detect

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