plumiNuclear fission and fusion: Edexcel International A Level Physics questions
Edexcel International A Level Physics past-paper questions on 5.4.1.2 Nuclear fission and fusion, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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All 21 questions on Nuclear fission and fusion, as a list
- June 2025, Unit 5, Q3 (1 mark): Energy is released when the fusion of low mass nuclei takes place. Energy is also released when the fission of high mass nuclei takes place. Which row of the ta
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q4 (1 mark): The graph shows how the binding energy (B.E.) per nucleon varies with the number of nucleons. The positions of three isotopes, P, Q and R, are marked on the cur
- October 2024, Unit 5, Q20(b) (6 marks): Explain the conditions that were required to bring about and maintain fusion in the core of the Sun. (6)
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q19(a)(ii) (5 marks): A scientist claimed that it would take 9 × 10 hydrogen in the Sun to be fused into helium. Assess the accuracy of this claim. You should consider the rate of pr
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q19(a) (2 marks): Explain why energy is released when a nucleus undergoes fission. (2)
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q19(b) (3 marks): A nucleus of Estimate the energy, in MeV, released in the fission. You should use values from the graph. (3) Energy released = MeV
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q21(a) (6 marks): Explain the conditions required to bring about and maintain fusion in a main sequence star. (6)
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q21(b)(ii) (2 marks): The binding energy per nucleon of helium is relatively large. Explain why this makes the helium nucleus particularly stable. (2)
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q1 (1 mark): Fusion reactions are the primary energy source of stars. Which row of the table gives the conditions necessary for fusion in stars? Density Temperature A high h
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q17(a) (2 marks): On the ITER website it states: “Fusion is the energy source of the Sun and stars. In the core of these stellar bodies, hydrogen nuclei fuse into helium nuclei a
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q17(b) (4 marks): It is hoped that the ITER will be the first fusion device on Earth to maintain nuclear fusion for long periods of time. To achieve fusion in the ITER, a hot pla
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q17(c) (3 marks): The graph shows the variation of binding energy per nucleon with proton number Z. Binding energy per nucleon / MeV 8 4He 7 6 7Li 6Li 5 4 3 3H 3He 2 2H 1 1H 0 Z
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q3 (1 mark): The fusion of nuclei of 56Fe in a star does not release energy. Which of the following is a reason for this? A The magnitude of nuclear binding energy is the le
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q1 (1 mark): Fission and fusion are both nuclear processes. Which of the following statements is correct for both processes? A No harmful radiation is produced. B Nuclear bi
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q20(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by fission. (1)
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q5 (1 mark): Which row of the table gives the conditions required in the core of a star for fusion to be sustained? Density Temperature A moderate moderate B moderate very h
- January 2022, Unit 5, Q10 (1 mark): The graph shows how the binding energy per nucleon depends upon nucleon number for a range of naturally occurring nuclides. Binding energy Fe per nucleon 56 Nuc
- October 2021, Unit 5, Q15 (6 marks): *15 Nuclear fusion in the core of a star is the source of the star’s power output. Explain the conditions required to bring about and maintain nuclear fusion in
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q4 (1 mark): In the Sun, nuclear fusion occurs mainly in the core. Which of the following is a reason for this? A Helium nuclei surround the core. B Most of the Sun’s hydrog
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q18(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by nuclear fission. (1)
- October 2020, Unit 5, Q13 (4 marks): Scientists have been working to achieve a practical nuclear fusion reactor for more than 70 years. So far, this has been with only limited success. Explain the
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