plumiUses and dangers of radioactivity: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions
Every Edexcel GCSE Physics exam question on Uses and dangers of radioactivity (specification points 6.28–6.36), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q4(a)(i)
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Q10(a)(i)
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Q4(a)
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Q4(b)(i)
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Q4(b)(ii)
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Q4(c)
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Q4(d)(ii)
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Q6(c)(i)
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Q10(a)
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Q10(b)(i)
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Q10(b)(ii)
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Q10(c)
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Q10(d)(ii)
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Q7(b)
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Q7(c)(i)
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Q7(c)(iii)
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Q7(c)(iv)
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Q7(d)
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Q4(a)(i)
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Q4(a)(ii)
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All 38 questions on Uses and dangers of radioactivity, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Gamma ray irradiation of food kills harmful bacteria by using (1) A ionising particles B ionising radiation C non-ionising particles D non-ionising radiation
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(a)(i) (1 mark): Gamma ray irradiation of food kills harmful bacteria by using (1) A ionising particles B ionising radiation C non-ionising particles D non-ionising radiation
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a) (1 mark): Radiation is used to treat tumours (cancer). The source of the radiation can be inside or outside the human body. Which of these has a radiation source that can
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain how the scan can give the location of the tumour. (3)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the radioactive isotope injected into the patient must be produced near to the place where it is to be used. (2)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(c) (2 marks): Radiotherapy can involve irradiation of patients. Radioactive tracers can involve contamination of patients. State two differences between irradiation and radio
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(d)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest a reason why the sample of isotope Q could be more dangerous to humans than the sample of isotope P. (1)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(c)(i) (1 mark): State one safety precaution the teacher should take. (1)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(a) (1 mark): Radiation is used to treat tumours (cancer). The source of the radiation can be inside or outside the human body. Which of these has a radiation source that can
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain how the scan can give the location of the tumour. (3)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the radioactive isotope injected into the patient must be produced near to the place where it is to be used. (2)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(c) (2 marks): Radiotherapy can involve irradiation of patients. Radioactive tracers can involve contamination of patients. State two differences between irradiation and radio
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(d)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest a reason why the sample of isotope Q could be more dangerous to humans than the sample of isotope P. (1)
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(b) (1 mark): Which of these radiations is used in smoke detectors? (1) A alpha B beta minus C beta plus D gamma
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): Name the type of radiation used to check the thickness of the paper. (1)
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(c)(iii) (1 mark): The count rate increases when the paper gets thinner. Give one reason for this increase. (1)
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(c)(iv) (2 marks): The rollers need to be adjusted if the count rate increases by 5%. Calculate the maximum count rate that would be allowed before the rollers need to be adjusted
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(d) (6 marks): Radioactivity from radioactive sources can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Describe one way radioactivity can be used in the diagnosis of canc
- June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): What type of radiation travels from the kidney to the scanner? (1) A alpha B beta plus C beta minus D gamma
- June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a)(ii) (2 marks): During the scan, a technician needs to take readings for about 30 minutes. The half‑life of the isotope used is about 6 hours. 1. State why an isotope with a ha
- June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a)(iii) (2 marks): State two ways of reducing the radiation risks to the technician. (2) 1 2
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): State one way that radioactivity can be dangerous to humans. (1)
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(a)(i) (1 mark): What type of radiation travels from the kidney to the scanner? (1) A alpha B beta plus C beta minus D gamma
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(a)(ii) (2 marks): During the scan, a technician needs to take readings for about 30 minutes. The half‑life of the isotope used is about 6 hours. 1. State why an isotope with a ha
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(a)(iii) (2 marks): State two ways of reducing the radiation risks to the technician. (2) 1 2
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a) (2 marks): Sometimes food can become contaminated with radioactive substances. Describe the harmful effects of eating food contaminated with radioactive substances. (2)
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(b) (2 marks): Gamma radiation can be used in food processing to irradiate food. Explain why some food is irradiated with gamma radiation. (2)
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(d) (6 marks): Exposing people to radioactive sources can be dangerous. Describe the dangers of exposure to radioactive sources and what can be done to protect hospital staff
- November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a) (2 marks): Radioactive substances are used in the generation of electricity. State two other uses of radioactive substances. (2) 1 2
- November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(d) (2 marks): Explain what can happen to the body if a person has a prolonged exposure to gamma rays. (2)
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(c)(ii) (2 marks): State two precautions the teacher must take to protect herself from the effects of radioactivity. (2) 1 2
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(d) (6 marks): Figure 14 shows a household smoke alarm that uses radioactivity to detect smoke. Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech Figure 14 The radioactive source in the smoke detecto
- June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(a)(i) (2 marks): Fluorine‑18 is a radioactive isotope used in PET scanners for medical diagnosis. Explain why fluorine‑18 must be produced close to the hospital where it is used
- June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(a)(ii) (4 marks): Some tumours inside the body can be treated by using either alpha radiation or gamma radiation. Explain why the source of alpha radiation is usually inside the
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): State one way in which radioactive isotopes can be harmful to people. (1)
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe one use of PET scanners in hospitals. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): State two precautions that hospital staff should take when working with radioactivity. (2) 2
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): Radioactive isotopes may be placed inside the body for treatment. The energy absorbed by tissue in the body needs to be known. The number of joules of energy ab
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