plumiFission, fusion and nuclear power: OCR A‑Level Physics B questions
OCR A-Level Physics B past-paper questions on 6.2.2.3 Fission, fusion and nuclear power, 2016–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q6(c)(i)
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All 17 questions on Fission, fusion and nuclear power, as a list
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q6(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain how the reaction below can lead to a chain reaction. 1 0n + 23 5 9 0 7Rb + 14 3 5Cs + 31 2U 0n 9 3 5 [2]
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q6(c)(ii) (4 marks): In a reactor, uranium-238 can capture a neutron to become unstable uranium-239. This decays through two beta decays to plutonium-239 which will fission. β decay
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q39(c)(i) (2 marks): Use data from Fig. 39.1 to show that the total energy released in the three-stage process is about 5 × 10–12 J. [2]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q39(c)(ii) (2 marks): Use the value for the average energy output, L, of the Sun to calculate the number of fusion reactions per second. L = 3.9 × 1026 J s–1 number = [2]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q39(c)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the rate at which mass is being converted to energy in the Sun. rate = kg s–1 [2]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q39(c)(iv) (3 marks): The age of the Earth is about 4.5 billion years. Use your answer to (c)(iii) to calculate the percentage of the solar mass converted to energy in 4.5 billion ye
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q39(b)(i) (2 marks): The fission reaction is 234 137 54Xe + 94 38Sr + 3 1 92U 0n The binding energy of the U-234 nucleus is –1778 MeV. Use the graph to show that the energy released
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q39(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the mass of 234 92U that must undergo fission to produce a constant output of 1400 MW for one year. mass of 234 92U atom = 3.89 × 10–25 kg. 1 year = 3
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q39(c) (4 marks): In a ‘thorium’ reactor, 234 92U is produced when a neutron is captured by a 233 92U nucleus. The 233 92U is produced from an isotope of thorium (Th) in the foll
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q3(c)(ii) (4 marks): Use the data below to calculate an estimate of the number of fusion three-stage reactions occurring in the Sun each second. 98% of the energy released in the pr
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q31(a) (1 mark): Complete the equation. [1]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q31(b) (3 marks): The masses of the nuclides (in atomic mass units) are: Nuclide Mass / u 239Pu 239.00055 134Xe 133.87575 103Zr 102.90345 1 n 1.00867 Calculate the binding energy
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q37(a)(i) (1 mark): Complete the equation for this fusion reaction: 2 3 4 .... 1H + 1H → ....He + ....n + released binding energy. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q37(c)(ii) (2 marks): Compare this to the possible fusion energy released by the bead. Use your answer to (a)(ii). You can assume 100% conversion to 4He. [2]
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q37(c)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest one practical difficulty in obtaining energy by this method. [1]
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q2(a) (2 marks): Explain how this reaction can become a chain reaction and suggest how the rate of the reaction can be controlled. [2]
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q2(d) (4 marks): Each year, fission reactors around the world produce about 1.4 × 1018 J of useful energy. Use the data below to calculate an estimate of the time uranium reserv
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