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Fundamental particles: OCR A‑Level Physics A questions

Every OCR A-Level Physics A exam question on 6.4.2 Fundamental particles, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,877 questions

  1. Q19(a)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 19(a): Describe the difference between hadrons and leptons. [2]
  2. Q19(b)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 19(b): An ‘up’ quark decays according to the equation below. 0e + ν u d + +1 Give the name(s) of the lepton(s) in this equation. [1]
  3. Q2

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 2: A neutrino is a fundamental particle. Which row of the table correctly describes a neutrino? Classification Force felt A hadron strong nuclear B hadron weak nuc
  4. Q13

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 13: A sub‑atomic particle has a positive charge. Which type of particle is it? A anti‑proton B down quark C neutrino D positron Your answer [1]
  5. Q20(d)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 20(d)(i): Determine the charge of the missing particle. [1]
  6. Q20(d)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 20(d)(ii): The missing particle is a lepton. Name this lepton. [1]
  7. Q20(d)(iii)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 20(d)(iii): In the fusion reaction above, determine the total number of up quarks at the start of the reaction. [1]
  8. Q20(e)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 20(e): Tritium (3 1H) is another isotope of hydrogen which is formed in stars. On the Earth, tritium is a radioactive element which decays by β– emission. Write down t
  9. Q3

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 3: Which of these statements is/are true? 1 Antiprotons are hadrons so are subject to the strong nuclear and weak nuclear forces. 2 Neutrons are subject to the wea
  10. Q20(b)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 20(b): (b)* Here is some data for a nucleus of carbon-14 (14 6C) and a nucleus of uranium-235 ( 235 92U). Carbon-14 nucleus Uranium-235 nucleus Decay mode Beta-minus d
  11. Q12

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 12: The table below shows the quark compositions of four particles A, B, C and D. A B C D u u d u d d u d s s s s Which particle has a positive charge? [1] Your ans
  12. Q21(a)

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 21(a): In the 1800s, the atom was considered to be a fundamental particle. It was an indivisible particle of matter. Modern physics shows that this idea is not correct
  13. Q14

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 14: Which lepton is emitted in the decay of an up quark and is affected by a magnetic field? A neutrino B electron C positron D antineutrino Your answer [1]
  14. Q10

    June 2017 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 2, question 10: Which statement is correct? A Hadrons are made up of protons and neutrons. B A positron and a proton are examples of leptons. C The positron and the electron ha
  15. Q23(b)(i)

    June 2017 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 2, question 23(b)(i): Name a hadron found in the nucleus of an atom and state its quark combination. name of hadron: quark combination: [1]
  16. Q23(b)(ii)

    June 2017 · Paper 2

    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 2, question 23(b)(ii): Write a decay equation in terms of a quark model for beta-minus decay. [2]
All 16 questions on Fundamental particles, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q19(a) (2 marks): Describe the difference between hadrons and leptons. [2]
  2. June 2025, Paper 2, Q19(b) (1 mark): An ‘up’ quark decays according to the equation below. 0e + ν u d + +1 Give the name(s) of the lepton(s) in this equation. [1]
  3. June 2024, Paper 2, Q2 (1 mark): A neutrino is a fundamental particle. Which row of the table correctly describes a neutrino? Classification Force felt A hadron strong nuclear B hadron weak nuc
  4. June 2024, Paper 2, Q13 (1 mark): A sub‑atomic particle has a positive charge. Which type of particle is it? A anti‑proton B down quark C neutrino D positron Your answer [1]
  5. June 2024, Paper 2, Q20(d)(i) (1 mark): Determine the charge of the missing particle. [1]
  6. June 2024, Paper 2, Q20(d)(ii) (1 mark): The missing particle is a lepton. Name this lepton. [1]
  7. June 2024, Paper 2, Q20(d)(iii) (1 mark): In the fusion reaction above, determine the total number of up quarks at the start of the reaction. [1]
  8. June 2024, Paper 2, Q20(e) (2 marks): Tritium (3 1H) is another isotope of hydrogen which is formed in stars. On the Earth, tritium is a radioactive element which decays by β– emission. Write down t
  9. June 2023, Paper 2, Q3 (1 mark): Which of these statements is/are true? 1 Antiprotons are hadrons so are subject to the strong nuclear and weak nuclear forces. 2 Neutrons are subject to the wea
  10. June 2022, Paper 2, Q20(b) (6 marks): (b)* Here is some data for a nucleus of carbon-14 (14 6C) and a nucleus of uranium-235 ( 235 92U). Carbon-14 nucleus Uranium-235 nucleus Decay mode Beta-minus d
  11. November 2020, Paper 2, Q12 (1 mark): The table below shows the quark compositions of four particles A, B, C and D. A B C D u u d u d d u d s s s s Which particle has a positive charge? [1] Your ans
  12. November 2020, Paper 2, Q21(a) (4 marks): In the 1800s, the atom was considered to be a fundamental particle. It was an indivisible particle of matter. Modern physics shows that this idea is not correct
  13. June 2018, Paper 2, Q14 (1 mark): Which lepton is emitted in the decay of an up quark and is affected by a magnetic field? A neutrino B electron C positron D antineutrino Your answer [1]
  14. June 2017, Paper 2, Q10 (1 mark): Which statement is correct? A Hadrons are made up of protons and neutrons. B A positron and a proton are examples of leptons. C The positron and the electron ha
  15. June 2017, Paper 2, Q23(b)(i) (1 mark): Name a hadron found in the nucleus of an atom and state its quark combination. name of hadron: quark combination: [1]
  16. June 2017, Paper 2, Q23(b)(ii) (2 marks): Write a decay equation in terms of a quark model for beta-minus decay. [2]

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