plumiIonising radiation: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions
Every Edexcel GCSE Physics exam question on Ionising radiation (specification points 6.10–6.17), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q9(a)(ii)
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Q9(c)
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Q8(a)
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Q8(b)
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Q8(c)
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Q8(d)(i)
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Q8(d)(ii)
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Q8(d)(iii)
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Q6(c)(ii)
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Q6(c)(iii)
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Q6(d)(i)
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Q6(d)(ii)
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Q7(a)(ii)
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Q7(a)
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Q7(c)(ii)
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Q6(a)(ii)
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Q6(a)(iii)
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Q3(a)
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Q3(c)(ii)
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All 37 questions on Ionising radiation, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which row of the table gives a correct comparison of the penetrating abilities of alpha, beta and gamma radiation? (1) least penetrating most penetrating A alph
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(c) (6 marks): A scientist investigates a sample of an unknown radioactive material. The scientist finds that the sample does not emit beta radiation. The scientist sets up th
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(a) (1 mark): An electron has a charge of –1. The charge on an alpha particle is (1) A −2 B 0 C +1 D +2
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(b) (1 mark): Alpha, beta and gamma are all ionising radiations. Give the meaning of the term ionising. (1)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(c) (3 marks): A teacher determines the background radiation count rate in a laboratory. Explain how to determine a value for the background radiation count rate. (3)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(d)(i) (2 marks): Sketch a labelled diagram showing the positions of the apparatus when the measurements are being taken. (2)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(d)(ii) (1 mark): Give the independent variable in this investigation. (1)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(d)(iii) (1 mark): Name a quantity that must be kept constant during the investigation. (1)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(c)(ii) (1 mark): The teacher uses the detector to measure the activity of the source several times. Figure 13 shows the results. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th measurement measurement measurem
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(c)(iii) (1 mark): Calculate the mean of the four measurements in Figure 13. (1) mean = Bq
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(d)(i) (2 marks): The source emits alpha radiation only. Explain how the graph in Figure 14 shows that the source only emits alpha radiation. (2)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(d)(ii) (1 mark): Give a reason why the mean detector reading in Figure 14 does not fall to zero in this experiment. (1)
- June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these is the approximate maximum distance that alpha particles can travel in air at normal atmospheric pressure? (1) A 5 mm B 5 cm C 5 m D 5 km
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(a) (1 mark): Which of these radiations does not have a charge? (1) A alpha B beta minus C beta plus D gamma
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(c)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of one device which could detect this type of radiation. (1) When the paper is the correct thickness, the count rate is 4000 counts per minute.
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): State one piece of equipment that can be used to measure radioactivity. (1)
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(iii) (2 marks): Alpha (α) radiation and ultraviolet (UV) radiation are ionising radiations. Give two other ionising radiations. (2) 1 2
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a) (1 mark): Alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ) are three types of radioactive emissions. Which statement describes all of these radioactive emissions? (1) A ionising and emi
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(c)(i) (2 marks): The aluminium sheet is taken away. The counter is reset to zero and then switched on again. A new count is taken for 1 minute. Explain why the new count is grea
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(c)(ii) (1 mark): The beta source is then also taken away. The counter is reset to zero and switched on again. A new count is taken for 1 minute. Give a reason why there would no
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(a) (1 mark): Alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ) are three types of radioactive emissions. Which statement describes all of these radioactive emissions? (1) A ionising and emi
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(b) (2 marks): Fluorine-19 is a stable isotope of the element fluorine. The element fluorine also has several radioactive isotopes. Describe one similarity and one difference
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(c)(i) (2 marks): The aluminium sheet is taken away. The counter is reset to zero and then switched on again. A new count is taken for 1 minute. Explain why the new count is grea
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(c)(ii) (1 mark): The beta source is then also taken away. The counter is reset to zero and switched on again. A new count is taken for 1 minute. Give a reason why there would no
- November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(e)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the average count rate, in counts / s, from the graph. Show your working on the graph. (2) average count rate = counts / s
- November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(e)(ii) (2 marks): The student says that the experiment must have been done carelessly because the data seemed quite scattered away from the best fit line. The teacher claims such
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(c)(i) (1 mark): State the scientific name for the radioactivity detector shown in Figure 10. (1) The teacher also has: • a radioactive source that emits only beta particles • a
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(c)(iii) (4 marks): Describe how the teacher could show how far beta particles travel in air. (4)
- June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): State the name of an instrument that can be used to measure radioactivity. (1)
- June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): State two sources of background radiation. (2) 1 2
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these radiations is both electromagnetic and ionising? (1) A alpha X B beta minus • C gamma D neutron
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which type of radiation will travel the shortest distance in air? (1) A alpha B beta minus C beta plus D gamma
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(b)(i) (1 mark): State the name of an instrument that can be used to measure radioactivity. (1)
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(b)(ii) (2 marks): State two sources of background radiation. (2) 1.... 2...
- June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a) (4 marks): Describe how a teacher should use a Geiger-Müller (GM) tube to compare the count-rates from two different radioactive rocks. (4)
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(a) (4 marks): Describe how a teacher should use a Geiger‑Müller (GM) tube to compare the count‑rates from two different radioactive rocks. (4)
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(c) (6 marks): A radioactive rock is placed near to the front of a Geiger‑Müller (GM) tube. A radioactivity count‑rate is first made in air. The count‑rate is measured again w
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