plumiAtomic line spectra and energy levels: Edexcel International A Level Physics questions
Edexcel International A Level Physics past-paper questions on 2.3.6.3 Atomic line spectra and energy levels, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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All 26 questions on Atomic line spectra and energy levels, as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q5 (1 mark): An energy level diagram for the hydrogen atom is shown. Arrows A, B, C and D show four possible electron transitions. Energy / eV Not to scale 0 B C –0.85 –1.51
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q18(a) (2 marks): One type of UV lamp contains mercury atoms in an evacuated glass tube. When a large potential difference is applied between two electrodes in the tube, electron
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q18(c) (2 marks): The potential difference applied between the electrodes in the UV lamp is increased. Explain the effect this would have on the frequency of the UV light produce
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q9 (1 mark): The diagram shows the energy needed for an electron in the ground state of a mercury atom to move to different energy levels. Not to scale 7.73 eV 6.70 eV 5.46
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q18(a) (3 marks): Atoms in the outer regions of the Sun absorb electromagnetic radiation. This produces the dark lines in the spectrum. Explain why electromagnetic radiation is o
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q2 (1 mark): Light from a discharge tube is viewed through a diffraction grating. An emission line spectrum is observed. Which of the following explains how electrons in the
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q17(a)(ii) (6 marks): The electrical circuit applies a large potential difference (p.d.) across the discharge tube. Explain how the p.d. across the discharge tube causes photons to b
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q10 (1 mark): In an atom, an electron drops from energy level E2 to energy level E1, as shown. E2 E1 A photon of wavelength λ is emitted. Which of the following expressions g
- January 2024, Unit 4, Q19(a) (3 marks): Collisions between electrons and oxygen atoms cause the emission of green light. Calculate the velocity of electrons that would cause green light of wavelength
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q9 (1 mark): The diagram shows some of the energy levels for a hydrogen atom. –19 J Energy / × 10 0 –1.36 –2.42 –5.42 Which of the following expressions is equal to the lowe
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q17(a) (2 marks): A photon interacts with this electron. Explain why this interaction causes the emission of another photon. (2)
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q17(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain whether the atom of hydrogen could emit a photon with this energy. (2)
- January 2023, AS Unit 2, Q7 (1 mark): The diagram shows some of the energy levels in an atom. n = 3 n = 2 n = 1 (ground state) Electrons in this atom are excited from the ground state to the energy
- October 2022, AS Unit 2, Q2 (1 mark): The diagram shows four possible transitions of electrons in an atom. A D B C ground state Which of the transitions will result in the emission of a photon with
- June 2022, AS Unit 2, Q7 (1 mark): The diagram shows an electron transition between two energy levels in a hydrogen atom. –3.4 eV –13.6 eV Which of the following could not have caused this transi
- January 2022, AS Unit 2, Q18(a) (4 marks): When light from Sirius A passes through the hydrogen in the outer layers of the star, some light is absorbed. This causes electrons in the hydrogen to be excite
- January 2022, AS Unit 2, Q18(c) (2 marks): When hydrogen gas is excited in the laboratory, only certain wavelengths of light are emitted. Explain why. (2)
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q16(a) (6 marks): Explain the process that results in the emission of different wavelengths of visible light. Your answer should include reference to energy levels in atoms. (6)
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q16(b) (2 marks): It is also possible to make the atoms in a sample of air emit visible light. Explain why the light emitted by the air has a large number of different wavelength
- June 2021, AS Unit 2, Q8 (1 mark): The diagram shows some of the energy levels of a hydrogen atom. –0.54 eV –0.85 eV –1.51 eV –3.40 eV –13.60 eV An excited electron in the level –0.54 eV drops to
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q18(e) (6 marks): Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is produced when alpha particles interact with air. This can be used to detect alpha particles when a nuclear reactor is decommission
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q14 (4 marks): The diagram shows some of the energy levels for an atom of hydrogen. 0 eV − 0.85 eV − 1.5 eV − 3.4 eV − 13.6 eV When an electron with a kinetic energy of 12.3 e
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q15(a) (3 marks): Calculate E for a hydrogen atom, in eV. (3) E = eV
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q18(c)(i) (4 marks): Explain the process by which nitrogen atoms produce a line spectrum. (4)
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q18(c)(ii) (1 mark): State why the line spectrum produced by oxygen atoms in the air would be different from the line spectrum produced by nitrogen atoms. (1)
- June 2019, AS Unit 2, Q16(a) (3 marks): Describe the process by which visible light is emitted from the sodium atoms. (3)
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