plumiDiagnostic methods in medicine: OCR A‑Level Physics A questions
Every OCR A-Level Physics A exam question on 6.5.2 Diagnostic methods in medicine, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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![June 2025 Paper 2, question 1: Which component of a gamma camera absorbs gamma rays and produces visible light? A collimator B computer C photomultiplier tube D scintillator Your answer [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55602-jun25-01-qp.webp?v=3)
Q19(d)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 2, question 19(d): The particle with symbol +1 Describe a practical use of this process in medical imaging. [4]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55602-jun25-19-d-qp.webp?v=3)
Q21(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 2, question 21(a)(i): Explain what is meant by a tracer. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55602-jun24-21-ai-qp.webp?v=3)
Q21(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 2, question 21(a)(ii): 99 43Tcm only emits gamma radiation. Give two advantages of using a tracer which only emits gamma radiation. 1 2 [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55602-jun24-21-aii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q22(d)
The whole paper ↗![June 2023 Paper 2, question 22(d): F-18 has a half-life of 109.7 minutes. Explain the advantage that this has for the patient but the disadvantage that this has for the radiographers. [3]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55602-jun23-22-d-qp.webp?v=3)
Q23(a)
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 Paper 2, question 23(a): Suggest why the collimator needs to be long and narrow. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55602-jun22-23-a-qp.webp?v=3)
Q23(b)
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 Paper 2, question 23(b): State the function of the scintillator. [1]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55602-jun22-23-b-qp.webp?v=3)
Q23(d)
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 Paper 2, question 23(d): State one diagnostic application of a gamma camera. [1] Question 24 is on the next page](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55602-jun22-23-d-qp.webp?v=3)
Q24(a)
The whole paper ↗![November 2020 Paper 2, question 24(a): Explain the advantages of using technetium-99m for this purpose. [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55602-nov20-24-a-qp.webp?v=3)
Q24(b)
The whole paper ↗
Q25(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2018 Paper 2, question 25(a)(iii): Fluorine-18 is a positron emitter. Name a medical imaging technique that uses fluorine-18 and state one benefit of the technique. [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55602-jun18-25-aiii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q25(a)
The whole paper ↗![June 2017 Paper 2, question 25(a): Describe how a PET scanner is used to locate an area of increased activity within the patient. [4]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55602-jun17-25-a-qp.webp?v=3)
Q25(c)
The whole paper ↗
All 15 questions on Diagnostic methods in medicine, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q1 (1 mark): Which component of a gamma camera absorbs gamma rays and produces visible light? A collimator B computer C photomultiplier tube D scintillator Your answer [1]
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q19(d) (4 marks): The particle with symbol +1 Describe a practical use of this process in medical imaging. [4]
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q21(a)(i) (1 mark): Explain what is meant by a tracer. [1]
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q21(a)(ii) (2 marks): 99 43Tcm only emits gamma radiation. Give two advantages of using a tracer which only emits gamma radiation. 1 2 [2]
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q6 (1 mark): Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) is a metastable isotope used in medical diagnosis. Which ionising radiation does Tc-99m emit? A alpha B beta-minus C beta-plus D gamma Y
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q22(d) (3 marks): F-18 has a half-life of 109.7 minutes. Explain the advantage that this has for the patient but the disadvantage that this has for the radiographers. [3]
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q23(a) (1 mark): Suggest why the collimator needs to be long and narrow. [1]
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q23(b) (1 mark): State the function of the scintillator. [1]
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q23(d) (1 mark): State one diagnostic application of a gamma camera. [1] Question 24 is on the next page
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q22 (4 marks): The medical tracer fluorine-18 is used in positron emission tomography (PET). Fluorine-18 is a beta-plus emitter with a short half-life. Describe how the fluori
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q24(a) (2 marks): Explain the advantages of using technetium-99m for this purpose. [2]
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q24(b) (3 marks): A gamma-camera uses powerful computers and sophisticated software to produce three- dimensional images of the patient’s organ. Name and describe the remaining t
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q25(a)(iii) (2 marks): Fluorine-18 is a positron emitter. Name a medical imaging technique that uses fluorine-18 and state one benefit of the technique. [2]
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q25(a) (4 marks): Describe how a PET scanner is used to locate an area of increased activity within the patient. [4]
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q25(c) (1 mark): PET scanners are not available in all hospitals. This is because fluorine-18 requires expensive on-site particle accelerators and fluorine-18 has a very small ‘
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