Skip to content
Try on iPad

The nuclear atom: OCR A‑Level Physics A questions

Every OCR A-Level Physics A exam question on 6.4.1 The nuclear atom, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

Find questions1,877
Calculations

1,877 questions

  1. Q12

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.4.1 The nuclear atom
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 12: What is the radius of a carbon nucleus that has 6 protons and 7 neutrons? Assume that the average radius of a nucleon r0 is 1.2 fm. A 2.2 fm B 2.3 fm C 2.8 fm D

  2. Q3(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    3 marks5.5.1 Stars6.4.1 The nuclear atom
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 3(b): A typical neutron star can be modelled as a sphere with mass ≈ 2 × 1030 kg and radius ≈ 10 km. Show that the average density of a neutron star is similar to the

  3. Q20(a)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    4 marks6.4.1 The nuclear atom
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 20(a): Deuterium is an isotope of hydrogen. A nucleus of deuterium has a proton and a neutron. Describe the nature and range of the two forces acting between these two

  4. Q20(b)

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    6 marks6.4.2 Fundamental particles6.4.1 The nuclear atom
    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

  5. Q21(c)

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    6 marks6.4.1 The nuclear atom
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 21(c): (c)* A graph of the density ρ of a nucleus against distance d from the centre of the nucleus is shown below. ρ 0 r d 0 The radius of the nucleus r is taken as t

  6. Q23(a)(iii)

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    2 marks6.4.1 The nuclear atom
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 23(a)(iii): Explain how protons stay within the nucleus of lithium-6. [2]

  7. Q6(a)

    November 2020 · Paper 3

    2 marks6.4.1 The nuclear atom
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 3, question 6(a): Another α-particle in the beam is deflected by the same gold nucleus N through an angle of 30°. Sketch its path onto the diagram above. [2]

  8. Q11

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.4.1 The nuclear atom
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 11: The radius of a gold nucleus with 197 nucleons is 7.3 × 10–15 m. What is the best estimate for the volume of a uranium nucleus with 235 nucleons? 1.6 × 10–42 m3

  9. Q23(a)(i)

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.4.1 The nuclear atom
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 23(a)(i): Show that the number of alpha-particles scattered through 15° is about 4000 times more than those scattered through 150°. [1]

  10. Q23(a)(ii)

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    3 marks6.4.1 The nuclear atom
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 23(a)(ii): Use the evidence from the table to explain the structure of the atom. [3]

  11. Q23(a)

    June 2017 · Paper 2

    2 marks6.4.1 The nuclear atom
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 2, question 23(a): Describe the nature of the strong nuclear force. [2]

  12. Q23(c)

    June 2017 · Paper 2

    2 marks6.4.1 The nuclear atom
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 2, question 23(c): The radius of a nucleus is directly proportional to A1/3, where A is the nucleon number. The mass of a proton and a neutron are similar. Explain why the mean de
All 12 questions on The nuclear atom, as a list
  1. June 2024, Paper 2, Q12 (1 mark): What is the radius of a carbon nucleus that has 6 protons and 7 neutrons? Assume that the average radius of a nucleon r0 is 1.2 fm. A 2.2 fm B 2.3 fm C 2.8 fm D
  2. June 2023, Paper 3, Q3(b) (3 marks): A typical neutron star can be modelled as a sphere with mass ≈ 2 × 1030 kg and radius ≈ 10 km. Show that the average density of a neutron star is similar to the
  3. June 2022, Paper 2, Q20(a) (4 marks): Deuterium is an isotope of hydrogen. A nucleus of deuterium has a proton and a neutron. Describe the nature and range of the two forces acting between these two
  4. 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
  5. November 2020, Paper 2, Q21(c) (6 marks): (c)* A graph of the density ρ of a nucleus against distance d from the centre of the nucleus is shown below. ρ 0 r d 0 The radius of the nucleus r is taken as t
  6. November 2020, Paper 2, Q23(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain how protons stay within the nucleus of lithium-6. [2]
  7. November 2020, Paper 3, Q6(a) (2 marks): Another α-particle in the beam is deflected by the same gold nucleus N through an angle of 30°. Sketch its path onto the diagram above. [2]
  8. June 2019, Paper 2, Q11 (1 mark): The radius of a gold nucleus with 197 nucleons is 7.3 × 10–15 m. What is the best estimate for the volume of a uranium nucleus with 235 nucleons? 1.6 × 10–42 m3
  9. June 2018, Paper 2, Q23(a)(i) (1 mark): Show that the number of alpha-particles scattered through 15° is about 4000 times more than those scattered through 150°. [1]
  10. June 2018, Paper 2, Q23(a)(ii) (3 marks): Use the evidence from the table to explain the structure of the atom. [3]
  11. June 2017, Paper 2, Q23(a) (2 marks): Describe the nature of the strong nuclear force. [2]
  12. June 2017, Paper 2, Q23(c) (2 marks): The radius of a nucleus is directly proportional to A1/3, where A is the nucleon number. The mass of a proton and a neutron are similar. Explain why the mean de

Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © OCR, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Every OCR A-Level Physics A paper, or our free OCR-style practice pack.

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