plumiNucleon number and the nuclear atom: Edexcel International A Level Physics questions
Edexcel International A Level Physics past-paper questions on 4.5.1.1 Nucleon number and the nuclear atom, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ11(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerLoading the question…
Open the full PDFLoading the question…
Open the full PDFLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ15(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerLoading the question…
Open the full PDFYour answerQ15(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDFQ16(a)
The whole paper ↗
Loading the start of the question…
Loading the question…
Open the full PDF
All 34 questions on Nucleon number and the nuclear atom, as a list
- June 2025, Unit 4, Q1 (1 mark): 213 1 An isotope of astatine has the symbol 85At. Which row of the table shows the number of protons and the number of neutrons in a nucleus of this isotope? Pr
- June 2025, Unit 4, Q5 (1 mark): In large‑angle alpha scattering experiments, alpha particles were directed at a thin metal foil. The alpha particles were then detected at four positions, W, X,
- January 2025, Unit 4, Q5 (1 mark): In alpha particle scattering experiments, alpha particles were directed at very thin gold foil. Some alpha particles were deflected through angles up to 180°. W
- October 2024, Unit 4, Q4 (1 mark): The isotope 86 222 Rn decays by emitting an alpha particle. Which of the following shows the nucleons in the isotope produced by this decay? A 134 neutrons, 84
- October 2024, Unit 4, Q9 (1 mark): Scientists in the early twentieth century directed beams of alpha particles at thin metal foils. Which of the following conclusions were they able to make from
- June 2024, Unit 4, Q7 (1 mark): In the early 1900s, scientists carried out alpha particle scattering experiments. Which of the following statements is not a valid conclusion from their observa
- June 2024, Unit 4, Q11(a) (2 marks): Complete the equation for this process. (2) 9 α + 4Be → C + n
- January 2024, Unit 4, Q1 (1 mark): Which of the following is the number of neutrons in a nucleus of 121 51Sb? A 51 B 70 C 121 D 172
- January 2024, Unit 4, Q10 (1 mark): The solid line shows the path of an alpha particle as it passes close to a gold nucleus. A B C gold nucleus D A second alpha particle with the same kinetic ener
- January 2024, Unit 4, Q14 (5 marks): In the early 20th century, a series of experiments was carried out in which alpha particles were directed at thin metal foils. A simplified version of the appar
- October 2023, Unit 4, Q1 (1 mark): The nucleus of an isotope of osmium (Os) contains 76 protons and 190 neutrons. Which of the following can be used to represent this isotope? A 266 76Os B 190 76
- October 2023, Unit 4, Q5 (1 mark): Which of the following is not a valid conclusion from Rutherford’s alpha particle scattering experiments? A The nucleus contains most of the mass of the atom. B
- October 2023, Unit 4, Q15(a) (4 marks): Calculate the minimum distance between the alpha particle and the gold nucleus. (4) Minimum distance =
- June 2023, Unit 4, Q3 (1 mark): A nucleus of 19 38K emits a β + particle. Which row of the table shows the proton number and nucleon number of the nucleus that is produced? Proton number Nucle
- June 2023, Unit 4, Q8 (1 mark): In the early 20th century, scientists carried out alpha particle scattering experiments. Which of the following is not a conclusion from the scientists’ observa
- January 2023, Unit 4, Q3 (1 mark): A nucleus of element X emits an alpha particle to produce the nucleus 233 91Y. Which of the following is the correct nucleon structure of element X? A 95 proton
- January 2023, Unit 4, Q5 (1 mark): Which of the following statements is not a valid conclusion from alpha particle scattering experiments? A Most of the atom is empty space. B Most of the mass of
- October 2022, Unit 4, Q2 (1 mark): Which of the following is a valid conclusion from alpha particle scattering experiments? A Atoms contain positive and negative charge distributed evenly. B The
- October 2022, Unit 4, Q15(a) (3 marks): Explain why alpha particles are more suitable for these experiments compared to beta particles or gamma rays. (3)
- June 2022, Unit 4, Q16(a) (6 marks): State three observations and the corresponding conclusions made from the alpha particle scattering experiment. (6)
- January 2022, Unit 4, Q1 (1 mark): 8O is an isotope of oxygen. 17 Which row of the table gives the number of nucleons and the number of neutrons in an atom of 17 8O ? Number of nucleons Number of
- January 2022, Unit 4, Q8 (1 mark): In the early 20th century experiments were carried out to measure the scattering of alpha particles after striking thin gold foil. Which of the following could
- October 2021, Unit 4, Q13(a) (6 marks): Following these experiments Rutherford said, “It was almost as incredible as if you fired a 15‑inch shell (large missile) at a piece of tissue paper and it came
- October 2021, Unit 4, Q13(b) (2 marks): Explain why the thickness of the gold foil had to be very small. (2)
- June 2021, Unit 4, Q2 (1 mark): In the early 20th century, scattering experiments were carried out by directing high speed alpha particles at thin metal foils. Which of the following could not
- January 2021, Unit 4, Q3 (1 mark): In 2016 the element oganesson was added to the periodic table. One isotope of oganesson has the symbol 118 294Og. Which row of the table shows the number of pro
- January 2021, Unit 4, Q18(a) (5 marks): The diagram represents an alpha particle reflected back through 180° as it approached the nucleus of a gold atom. path of alpha particle nucleus of gold atom Ca
- January 2021, Unit 4, Q18(b) (4 marks): The diagram represents the path of an alpha particle with the same initial speed as in (a) that is deflected through a smaller angle. path of alpha particle nuc
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q14(a) (2 marks): In 1911 Rutherford concluded that the atom has a central charge contained in a very small volume. Explain how the results of the experiment led to this conclusi
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q14(b) (4 marks): Rutherford wrote, “The main deductions from the theory are independent of whether the central charge is positive or negative.” Discuss why the observations did
- October 2020, Unit 4, Q17(b)(i) (2 marks): Complete the nuclear equation for this sequence of decays. (2) 220 Rn → 82 Pb + α
- January 2020, Unit 4, Q11 (3 marks): A section from the periodic table is shown. Element symbol Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Atomic number 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Technetium (Tc) is produced when a deuterium
- January 2020, Unit 4, Q15(a) (1 mark): State why the alpha source and gold foil were contained in a vacuum. (1)
- January 2020, Unit 4, Q15(b) (6 marks): At that time, one model for the structure of atoms was the plum pudding model proposed by J J Thompson. In this model, the positive charge and mass were spread
Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © Pearson Edexcel, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Edexcel International A Level Physics past papers.
The Plumi iPad app also offers exam-style questions with AI feedback on your handwritten working.