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Nuclear energy: Eduqas A‑Level Physics questions

Every Eduqas A-Level Physics exam question on 3.8 Nuclear energy, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,592 questions

  1. Q8(a)

    June 2025 · Component 1

    4 marks3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 1, question 8(a): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph Laser Fusion 1 Apart from the hydrogen fusion bomb, which actually requires a fission bomb to detonate i

  2. Q8(d)

    June 2025 · Component 3

    5 marks3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 3, question 8(d): The mass of the ∆– particle is 1.323 u, the mass of a neutron is 1.009 u, and the mass of particle X is 0.150 u. From Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, nothing c

  3. Q10(c)(ii)

    June 2025 · Component 3

    3 marks3.B Medical physics3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 3, question 10(c)(ii): During a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, a positron of kinetic energy 2.2 MeV collides with a stationary electron and both are annihilated in the colli

  4. Q12(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Component 3

    2 marks3.D Energy and the environment3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 3, question 12(b)(i): Calculate the percentage mass loss in this fusion reaction. [2]

  5. Q12(b)(iv)

    June 2024 · Component 3

    3 marks3.D Energy and the environment3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 3, question 12(b)(iv): Explain briefly the difficulties associated with producing sustained nuclear fusion power. [3]

  6. Q8(b)

    June 2023 · Component 3

    3 marks3.8 Nuclear energy3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 3, question 8(b): The unknown particle X is then seen to decay as follows: γ + γ X where each gamma photon has an energy of 67.5 MeV. Calculate the mass of particle X in kg. [3]

  7. Q7(c)

    Autumn 2021 · Component 3

    2 marks3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Autumn 2021 Component 3, question 7(c): The masses of the particles in the reaction are: Particle Mass / kg Particle Mass / kg Particle Mass / kg 3 2 He 5.006 × 10–27 4 2 He 6.645 × 10–27 νe 0 1 1H 1.

  8. Q7(b)

    Autumn 2020 · Component 3

    5 marks3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Autumn 2020 Component 3, question 7(b): Determine whether or not a kinetic energy of 3.6 MeV for the alpha particle in the above reaction is consistent with the data in the table below (you may assume

  9. Q5(a)

    June 2019 · Component 3

    3 marks3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Component 3, question 5(a): Show that this interaction can only take place if the energy of the gamma photon is greater than 1.02 MeV. [3]

  10. Q5(b)

    June 2019 · Component 3

    2 marks3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Component 3, question 5(b): The actual energy of the incident gamma photon is 1.03 MeV. Assuming that the kinetic energy of the nucleus after the interaction is negligible, explain briefly

  11. Q5(c)

    June 2019 · Component 3

    4 marks3.8 Nuclear energy1.3 Dynamics
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Component 3, question 5(c): Use the kinetic energies of 0.005 MeV and conservation of momentum to show that the speeds of the positron and electron are 4.2 × 107 m s–1 and that the momentu

  12. Q5(d)

    June 2019 · Component 3

    2 marks3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Component 3, question 5(d): The momentum of the nucleus (4.7 × 10–22 kg m s–1) is essential otherwise conservation of momentum would be impossible. Deduce whether or not the assumption in

  13. Q14(a)(ii)

    June 2019 · Component 3

    2 marks3.D Energy and the environment3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Component 3, question 14(a)(ii): The proton-proton chain is a set of reactions that take place in our Sun and can be summarised in the following equation. 41 H + 2 0 –1e 4 He + 2νe 1 2 Use data

  14. Q14(a)(iii)

    June 2019 · Component 3

    2 marks3.D Energy and the environment3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Component 3, question 14(a)(iii): The Sun can be assumed to have come to the end of its life when it has lost 0.7 % of its mass to radiated energy. Estimate the lifetime of the Sun in years. Tak

  15. Q7(a)

    June 2018 · Component 3

    2 marks3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Component 3, question 7(a): Explain briefly what is meant by conservation of mass-energy. [2]

  16. Q8

    June 2018 · Component 3

    6 marks3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Component 3, question 8: Explain the concept of binding energy per nucleon and how it relates to nuclear fission and fusion. [6 QER] Binding energy per nucleon (MeV / nucleon) 10 56 75

  17. Q3(a)

    June 2017 · Component 3

    3 marks3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Component 3, question 3(a): Calculate the energy released in the decay of tritium. [3]

  18. Q3(b)(i)

    June 2017 · Component 3

    3 marks3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Component 3, question 3(b)(i): Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of a tritium nucleus. [3]

  19. Q3(b)(ii)

    June 2017 · Component 3

    3 marks3.8 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Component 3, question 3(b)(ii): The binding energy per nucleon of a helium-3 nucleus (i.e. 2.6 MeV/nucleon) is slightly lower than the answer to (b)(i). How does this show that binding energy
All 19 questions on Nuclear energy, as a list
  1. June 2025, Component 1, Q8(a) (4 marks): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph Laser Fusion 1 Apart from the hydrogen fusion bomb, which actually requires a fission bomb to detonate i
  2. June 2025, Component 3, Q8(d) (5 marks): The mass of the ∆– particle is 1.323 u, the mass of a neutron is 1.009 u, and the mass of particle X is 0.150 u. From Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, nothing c
  3. June 2025, Component 3, Q10(c)(ii) (3 marks): During a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, a positron of kinetic energy 2.2 MeV collides with a stationary electron and both are annihilated in the colli
  4. June 2025, Component 3, Q12(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage mass loss in this fusion reaction. [2]
  5. June 2024, Component 3, Q12(b)(iv) (3 marks): Explain briefly the difficulties associated with producing sustained nuclear fusion power. [3]
  6. June 2023, Component 3, Q8(b) (3 marks): The unknown particle X is then seen to decay as follows: γ + γ X where each gamma photon has an energy of 67.5 MeV. Calculate the mass of particle X in kg. [3]
  7. Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(c) (2 marks): The masses of the particles in the reaction are: Particle Mass / kg Particle Mass / kg Particle Mass / kg 3 2 He 5.006 × 10–27 4 2 He 6.645 × 10–27 νe 0 1 1H 1.
  8. Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q7(b) (5 marks): Determine whether or not a kinetic energy of 3.6 MeV for the alpha particle in the above reaction is consistent with the data in the table below (you may assume
  9. June 2019, Component 3, Q5(a) (3 marks): Show that this interaction can only take place if the energy of the gamma photon is greater than 1.02 MeV. [3]
  10. June 2019, Component 3, Q5(b) (2 marks): The actual energy of the incident gamma photon is 1.03 MeV. Assuming that the kinetic energy of the nucleus after the interaction is negligible, explain briefly
  11. June 2019, Component 3, Q5(c) (4 marks): Use the kinetic energies of 0.005 MeV and conservation of momentum to show that the speeds of the positron and electron are 4.2 × 107 m s–1 and that the momentu
  12. June 2019, Component 3, Q5(d) (2 marks): The momentum of the nucleus (4.7 × 10–22 kg m s–1) is essential otherwise conservation of momentum would be impossible. Deduce whether or not the assumption in
  13. June 2019, Component 3, Q14(a)(ii) (2 marks): The proton-proton chain is a set of reactions that take place in our Sun and can be summarised in the following equation. 41 H + 2 0 –1e 4 He + 2νe 1 2 Use data
  14. June 2019, Component 3, Q14(a)(iii) (2 marks): The Sun can be assumed to have come to the end of its life when it has lost 0.7 % of its mass to radiated energy. Estimate the lifetime of the Sun in years. Tak
  15. June 2018, Component 3, Q7(a) (2 marks): Explain briefly what is meant by conservation of mass-energy. [2]
  16. June 2018, Component 3, Q8 (6 marks): Explain the concept of binding energy per nucleon and how it relates to nuclear fission and fusion. [6 QER] Binding energy per nucleon (MeV / nucleon) 10 56 75
  17. June 2017, Component 3, Q3(a) (3 marks): Calculate the energy released in the decay of tritium. [3]
  18. June 2017, Component 3, Q3(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of a tritium nucleus. [3]
  19. June 2017, Component 3, Q3(b)(ii) (3 marks): The binding energy per nucleon of a helium-3 nucleus (i.e. 2.6 MeV/nucleon) is slightly lower than the answer to (b)(i). How does this show that binding energy

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