Skip to content
Try on iPad

Particles and nuclear structure: Eduqas A‑Level Physics questions

Every Eduqas A-Level Physics exam question on 3.7 Particles and nuclear structure, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

Find questions1,592
Calculations

1,592 questions

  1. Q8(a)

    June 2025 · Component 3

    4 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 3, question 8(a): Identify particle X, using conservation of charge, baryon number and lepton number. Show your reasoning clearly. [4]

  2. Q8(b)

    June 2025 · Component 3

    1 mark3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 3, question 8(b): Show that the quark make-up of the ∆– is ddd. [1]

  3. Q8(c)

    June 2025 · Component 3

    2 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 3, question 8(c): Determine whether up and down quark numbers are conserved in this decay. [2]

  4. Q8(e)

    June 2025 · Component 3

    2 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 3, question 8(e): On 10 August 2023, it was announced in a seminar that the magnetic moment of muons does not fit the standard model of particles. The magnetic moment of a muon s

  5. Q6(a)

    June 2025 · AS Component 1

    6 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Component 1, question 6(a): The table shows some information about first generation subatomic particles. Quark Baryon Lepton Particle Symbol Charge / e combination number number Δ++ delta

  6. Q6(b)(i)

    June 2025 · AS Component 1

    3 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Component 1, question 6(b)(i): The following reaction shows the decay of a neutron, n. Identify particle X, giving your reasoning in terms of conservation laws. [3] n p + –e + X

  7. Q6(b)(ii)

    June 2025 · AS Component 1

    2 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Component 1, question 6(b)(ii): Determine which force is responsible for this decay. Explain your answer. [2]

  8. Q6

    June 2024 · Component 3

    5 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 3, question 6: Aluminium-26 undergoes a process called electron capture to become magnesium-26. Lee states that this must be an electromagnetic force reaction. He then writes

  9. Q5(a)

    June 2024 · AS Component 1

    4 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Component 1, question 5(a): Explain how hadrons and leptons differ from each other. Give one example of each. [4]

  10. Q5(b)(i)

    June 2024 · AS Component 1

    4 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Component 1, question 5(b)(i): Scientists at CERN observed the following reaction, where x is an unidentified particle. ve + n = p + x Identify particle x. Give your reasoning. [4]

  11. Q5(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · AS Component 1

    2 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Component 1, question 5(b)(ii): Doug believes this to be a strong force interaction. Determine whether Doug is correct. [2]

  12. Q8(a)

    June 2023 · Component 3

    4 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 3, question 8(a): Use conservation of baryon number, charge and lepton number to identify particle X. [4]

  13. 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]

  14. Q6(a)

    June 2023 · AS Component 1

    4 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Component 1, question 6(a): Complete the table. [4]

  15. Q6(b)(i)

    June 2023 · AS Component 1

    3 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Component 1, question 6(b)(i): The following reaction shows the beta decay of a beryllium nucleus. Using conservation laws, identify particle X. [3] 10Be → 10B + e− + X 4 5

  16. Q6(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · AS Component 1

    2 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Component 1, question 6(b)(ii): State which force is responsible for this decay. Explain your answer. [2]

  17. Q6(c)(i)

    June 2023 · AS Component 1

    1 mark3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Component 1, question 6(c)(i): Explain what is meant by the term hadron. [1]

  18. Q6(c)(ii)

    June 2023 · AS Component 1

    2 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Component 1, question 6(c)(ii): Given the significance of CERN to the scientific community consider whether every country in the world should be contributing to its funding. Explain your answe

  19. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2022 · AS Component 1

    4 marks3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Component 1, question 6(a)(i): Complete the table above. [4]

  20. Q6(a)(ii)

    June 2022 · AS Component 1

    1 mark3.7 Particles and nuclear structure
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Component 1, question 6(a)(ii): State which one of the above particles is usually classed as an antiparticle. [1]
All 55 questions on Particles and nuclear structure, as a list
  1. June 2025, Component 3, Q8(a) (4 marks): Identify particle X, using conservation of charge, baryon number and lepton number. Show your reasoning clearly. [4]
  2. June 2025, Component 3, Q8(b) (1 mark): Show that the quark make-up of the ∆– is ddd. [1]
  3. June 2025, Component 3, Q8(c) (2 marks): Determine whether up and down quark numbers are conserved in this decay. [2]
  4. June 2025, Component 3, Q8(e) (2 marks): On 10 August 2023, it was announced in a seminar that the magnetic moment of muons does not fit the standard model of particles. The magnetic moment of a muon s
  5. June 2025, AS Component 1, Q6(a) (6 marks): The table shows some information about first generation subatomic particles. Quark Baryon Lepton Particle Symbol Charge / e combination number number Δ++ delta
  6. June 2025, AS Component 1, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): The following reaction shows the decay of a neutron, n. Identify particle X, giving your reasoning in terms of conservation laws. [3] n p + –e + X
  7. June 2025, AS Component 1, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Determine which force is responsible for this decay. Explain your answer. [2]
  8. June 2024, Component 3, Q6 (5 marks): Aluminium-26 undergoes a process called electron capture to become magnesium-26. Lee states that this must be an electromagnetic force reaction. He then writes
  9. June 2024, AS Component 1, Q5(a) (4 marks): Explain how hadrons and leptons differ from each other. Give one example of each. [4]
  10. June 2024, AS Component 1, Q5(b)(i) (4 marks): Scientists at CERN observed the following reaction, where x is an unidentified particle. ve + n = p + x Identify particle x. Give your reasoning. [4]
  11. June 2024, AS Component 1, Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): Doug believes this to be a strong force interaction. Determine whether Doug is correct. [2]
  12. June 2023, Component 3, Q8(a) (4 marks): Use conservation of baryon number, charge and lepton number to identify particle X. [4]
  13. 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]
  14. June 2023, AS Component 1, Q6(a) (4 marks): Complete the table. [4]
  15. June 2023, AS Component 1, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): The following reaction shows the beta decay of a beryllium nucleus. Using conservation laws, identify particle X. [3] 10Be → 10B + e− + X 4 5
  16. June 2023, AS Component 1, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): State which force is responsible for this decay. Explain your answer. [2]
  17. June 2023, AS Component 1, Q6(c)(i) (1 mark): Explain what is meant by the term hadron. [1]
  18. June 2023, AS Component 1, Q6(c)(ii) (2 marks): Given the significance of CERN to the scientific community consider whether every country in the world should be contributing to its funding. Explain your answe
  19. June 2022, AS Component 1, Q6(a)(i) (4 marks): Complete the table above. [4]
  20. June 2022, AS Component 1, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): State which one of the above particles is usually classed as an antiparticle. [1]
  21. June 2022, AS Component 1, Q6(a)(iii) (1 mark): State one difference and one similarity between a charged particle and its antiparticle. [1]
  22. June 2022, AS Component 1, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): The following reaction has been observed in the large hadron collider at CERN. e− + p → Δ++ + x + π− where Δ++ is a first generation baryon. Identify particle x
  23. June 2022, AS Component 1, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Deduce which force is responsible for the interaction, giving a reason for your answer. [2]
  24. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Comment on the radius of this atomic orbit. [1]
  25. Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(a) (3 marks): Show how conservation of baryon number, charge and lepton number apply to this reaction. [3]
  26. Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(b) (1 mark): The electron neutrino indicates that this is a weak force interaction. State another clear indicator that this reaction is a weak force interaction. [1]
  27. Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q7(d) (2 marks): Another more common nuclear reaction for 3 2 He in stars is: 3He + 3He 4He + 1H 21 2 2 2 Sophie claims that this is a strong nuclear force reaction. Determine w
  28. Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q6 (6 marks): e−, e+, n, p, π− 6 Discuss the make-up and properties of the following particles . [6 QER]
  29. June 2019, Component 3, Q6(a) (1 mark): The anti-∆++ is an anti-baryon and a first-generation particle which has a charge of –2e. Explain why the only possible quark make-up of the anti-∆++ is ūūū. [1
  30. June 2019, Component 3, Q6(b) (2 marks): The anti-∆++ has a lifetime of approximately 6 × 10–24 s and decays into a π meson and another anti-baryon. Deduce the quark make-up of the π meson and the anti
  31. June 2019, Component 3, Q6(c) (2 marks): State which force is responsible for the decay of the anti-∆++ into a π meson and anti- baryon, giving a reason for your answer. [2]
  32. June 2019, Component 3, Q6(d) (3 marks): In 2011, a highly respected international research collaboration reported that they had measured neutrinos travelling at speeds greater than that of light. This
  33. June 2019, AS Component 1, Q7(a) (2 marks): Quarks and electron neutrinos are fundamental particles whereas protons and neutrons are not. Explain this statement. [2]
  34. June 2019, AS Component 1, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): State why it is that electron neutrinos are very difficult to detect. [2]
  35. June 2019, AS Component 1, Q7(b)(ii) (3 marks): Electron neutrinos can be detected when they interact with deuterium nuclei, H, 1 that are present in heavy water. The following reaction is observed. 2 ve + H
  36. June 2019, AS Component 1, Q7(c) (2 marks): When a positron and an electron meet they annihilate to produce two gamma ray photons. e+ + e– → γ + γ State which force is responsible for this interaction, gi
  37. June 2018, Component 3, Q7(b) (4 marks): It is suggested that a collision between two protons, each of kinetic energy 3 GeV produces the following interaction: 5p + 3p– + n + n– + 2π+ + 2π– + 4ve p + p
  38. June 2018, AS Component 1, Q5(a) (6 marks): Subatomic particles can be classified as either hadrons or leptons. Giving examples of each, fully describe the differences and similarities between these two g
  39. June 2018, AS Component 1, Q5(b)(i) (3 marks): Identify the particle, x, explaining how you used the relevant conservation laws. [3]
  40. June 2018, AS Component 1, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): Describe the change in quark flavour during electron capture. [1]
  41. June 2018, AS Component 1, Q5(b)(iii) (1 mark): State and explain which interaction is responsible for this decay. [1]
  42. June 2017, Component 3, Q2(a)(i) (3 marks): Show how charge, baryon number and lepton number are conserved in this decay. [3]
  43. June 2017, Component 3, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Give two reasons why this must be a weak nuclear force interaction. [2]
  44. June 2017, Component 3, Q2(c) (3 marks): Carbon-11 (11 6 C) is proton rich and undergoes positron decay to a stable isotope of boron (B). Complete the following decay equation for carbon-11 Space is pr
  45. June 2017, Component 3, Q2(d) (3 marks): On the 14 March 2013, the discovery of the Higgs boson was first announced by CERN. Some physicists were convinced that they had discovered the Higgs boson, oth
  46. June 2017, AS Component 1, Q3(a) (3 marks): Use the conservation of lepton number and conservation of charge to identify the particle x. [3]
  47. June 2017, AS Component 1, Q3(b) (2 marks): State which force is responsible for this interaction. Give your reasoning. [2]
  48. June 2017, AS Component 1, Q3(c)(i) (1 mark): ction has been observed at the large hadron collider in CERN. p + p → H + e+ + x 2 1 (c) State which of the above particles can be classed as: [2] (i) a baryon;
  49. June 2017, AS Component 1, Q3(c)(ii) (1 mark): g two protons at very high energy the following interaction has been observed at the large hadron collider in CERN. p + p → H + e+ + x 2 1 (ii) an antiparticle.
  50. June 2017, AS Component 1, Q3(d) (2 marks): At present, countries in Europe contribute to funding research at CERN. Evaluate whether or not the money could be better spent on humanitarian aid. [2]
  51. June 2016, AS Component 1, Q5(a)(i) (2 marks): State one difference between the two groups and give an example of a particle in each group. [2]
  52. June 2016, AS Component 1, Q5(a)(ii) (1 mark): Hadrons can be further divided into two groups – baryons and mesons. Describe the quark make-up of each. [1]
  53. June 2016, AS Component 1, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): A positron, e+, is an antiparticle. Give one similarity and one difference between a particle and its antiparticle. [2]
  54. June 2016, AS Component 1, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): Identify particle x, explaining how you used the relevant conservation laws. [3]
  55. June 2016, AS Component 1, Q5(b)(iii) (1 mark): Which interaction is responsible for this decay? Give a reason for your answer. [1]

Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © WJEC Eduqas, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Every Eduqas A-Level Physics paper.

Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.