plumiNuclear decay and equations: Edexcel GCSE Combined Science questions
Every Edexcel GCSE Combined Science exam question on Nuclear decay and equations (specification points 6.18–6.22), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q6(b)
The whole paper ↗Q6(c)
The whole paper ↗Q5(d)(iv)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)
The whole paper ↗Q5(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q5(c)
The whole paper ↗Q6(c)
The whole paper ↗Q6(d)
The whole paper ↗Q5(b)
The whole paper ↗Q2(d)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(c)
The whole paper ↗
All 12 questions on Nuclear decay and equations, as a list
- June 2025, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b) (2 marks): Describe what happens in the nucleus of an atom when a beta plus particle is emitted. (2)
- June 2025, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q6(c) (6 marks): Radioactive decay can produce gamma radiation and alpha radiation. Compare the processes of gamma decay and alpha decay. Your answer should include • a descript
- June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q5(d)(iv) (2 marks): Strontium-90 is the source of beta minus radiation in this investigation. Complete the nuclear equation for this emission of beta minus radiation. (2) 90 0 90 S
- June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b) (1 mark): The nucleus of a different atom emits a gamma ray. What happens to the number of particles in the nucleus? (1) A it decreases by one B it decreases by two C it
- June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(iii) (3 marks): Complete the equation in Figure 9 for americium-241 decaying into neptunium (Np). (3) α + 95Am → Np 241 Figure 9
- June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q5(c) (2 marks): Describe what happens in the nucleus of an atom when a positron is emitted. (2)
- November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q6(c) (1 mark): Gamma radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. When the nucleus of an atom emits a gamma ray, the number of protons in the nucleus and the number of n
- November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q6(d) (6 marks): Gamma radiation is produced by radioactive decay. Alpha radiation and beta radiation are also produced by radioactive decay. Compare the processes of alpha deca
- November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b) (1 mark): Figure 7 represents a decay that can happen inside the nucleus of an atom. neutron proton Figure 7 Which decay is represented in Figure 7? (1) A alpha B beta mi
- June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q2(d) (2 marks): Carbon-14 decays into nitrogen-14. The symbol for nitrogen-14 is 14 7N Explain what happens in a carbon-14 nucleus when it decays to a nitrogen-14 nucleus. (2)
- June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Lead-214 emits ß-particles. Describe what happens to the nucleus of a lead-214 atom when it emits a ß- particle. (2)
- June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q2(c) (1 mark): One radioactive source used in hospitals is technetium (Tc). Technetium is produced from the radioactive decay of molybdenum (Mo). Complete the following nuclea
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