plumiUses and hazards: OCR GCSE Physics A questions
Every OCR GCSE Physics A exam question on P6.2 Uses and hazards, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q18(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q18(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q21(a)
The whole paper ↗Q21(b)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
- Your answer
Q20(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q21(a)
The whole paper ↗Q21(b)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
Q21(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q21(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q23(a)
The whole paper ↗Q17(a)
The whole paper ↗Q16(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q16(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q23(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q23(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q23(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q23(b)
The whole paper ↗
All 59 questions on Uses and hazards, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q18(c)(i) (2 marks): Explain how the sealed metal containers prevent the technicians from being irradiated by beta particles emitted from carbon-14. [2]
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q18(c)(ii) (1 mark): Explain how the sealed metal containers prevent the technicians from being contaminated by carbon-14. [1]
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q21(a) (3 marks): The total power output of the nuclear power station is 1.0 GW. The average power output of one fission reaction is 3.2 × 10–11 W. Calculate the number of fissio
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q21(b) (6 marks): A nuclear power station uses fission to produce electricity. (b)* Scientists think that nuclear fusion would be a better energy source than nuclear fission. The
- June 2025, Paper 4 Higher, Q4 (1 mark): A scientist is doing an experiment using a radioactive source that emits only gamma rays. Which safety procedure does not reduce irradiation of the scientist? A
- June 2025, Paper 4 Higher, Q14 (1 mark): The energy released from the fission of a single uranium-235 nucleus is 3.2 × 10–11 J. A uranium-235 nucleus splits and releases 3 neutrons, causing a chain rea
- June 2025, Paper 4 Higher, Q20(b)(i) (2 marks): The technician uses equal masses of each metal in Table 20.1. Explain which metal in Table 20.1 is likely to be the most hazardous to the technician while doing
- June 2025, Paper 4 Higher, Q21(a) (2 marks): The expected power output of a nuclear fusion power station in the future is 1.3 × 109 W. The average energy output of an individual fusion reaction is 2.8 × 10
- June 2025, Paper 4 Higher, Q21(b) (6 marks): Scientists are working on nuclear fusion technology so that, in the future, nuclear fusion power stations could be built to generate electricity. (b)* Scientist
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8 (1 mark): What happens in the process of nuclear fusion? A A chain reaction starts. B A heavy nucleus splits and releases energy. C A uranium nucleus absorbs a neutron. D
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q21(b)(i) (2 marks): Yttrium-90 has a short half-life of 64 hours. Explain why a short half-life is important for the patient. [2]
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q21(b)(ii) (2 marks): Problems of using yttrium-90 to treat liver cancer include: • poor appetite, abdominal pain, fever or sickness • people in contact with the patient can be expos
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q23(a) (2 marks): Explain why workers at the power station were both contaminated and irradiated in the accident. Contaminated because Irradiated because [2]
- June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q17(a) (2 marks): Explain why workers at the power station were both contaminated and irradiated in the accident. Contaminated because Irradiated because [2]
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q16(c)(i) (1 mark): Which diagram shows nuclear fusion? Answer = [1]
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q16(c)(ii) (1 mark): Which diagram shows nuclear fission? Answer = [1]
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q23(a)(i) (2 marks): Sodium-24 has a half-life of 15 hours. Give two reasons why this is useful. 1 2 [2]
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q23(a)(ii) (1 mark): Sodium-24 emits beta and gamma radiation. Explain why this makes sodium-24 a good tracer. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q23(a)(iii) (1 mark): Sodium-24 decays to form a stable isotope. Explain why this is important. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q23(b) (2 marks): The tracer is monitored using a gamma radiation detector. How is the location of the leak found? [2]
- June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q3 (1 mark): A radioactive element emits gamma rays. A teacher accidentally spills some of the radioactive element on their hands. Which sentence describes what happens to t
- June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q17(a)(i) (2 marks): Sodium-24 has a half-life of 15 hours. Give two reasons why this is useful. 1 2 [2]
- June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q17(a)(ii) (1 mark): Sodium-24 emits beta and gamma radiation. Explain why this makes sodium-24 a good tracer. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q17(a)(iii) (1 mark): Sodium-24 decays to form a stable isotope. Explain why this is important. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q17(b) (2 marks): The tracer is monitored using a gamma radiation detector. How is the location of the leak found? [2]
- June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q20(b) (6 marks): (b)* Nuclear power stations use nuclear fission rather than nuclear fusion to generate energy. This graph shows how the probability of a nuclear fusion reaction
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q4 (1 mark): Which row describes nuclear fusion? What happens Where it occurs A heavy nuclei split in nuclear power stations B heavy nuclei split in the Sun C light nuclei c
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q22(c)(i) (2 marks): Which radiation should be emitted by the isotope? Tick (3) one box. Alpha Beta Gamma State a reason for your answer. [2]
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q22(c)(ii) (2 marks): There are three different isotopes with the following half-lives: 4 minutes 6 hours 18 days The doctor chooses the isotope with a half-life of 6 hours. Suggest
- June 2022, Paper 4 Higher, Q12 (1 mark): A student models nuclear fission using this process: Step 1 • A uranium nucleus absorbs one neutron. • The uranium nucleus splits releasing three neutrons. The
- June 2022, Paper 4 Higher, Q17(c)(i) (2 marks): Which radiation should be emitted by the isotope? Tick (✓) one box. Alpha Beta Gamma State a reason for your answer. [2]
- June 2022, Paper 4 Higher, Q17(c)(ii) (2 marks): There are three different isotopes with the following half-lives: 4 minutes 6 hours 18 days The doctor chooses the isotope with a half-life of 6 hours. Suggest
- November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q19(c) (2 marks): A scientist is using a radioactive element. The scientist accidently touches the radioactive element and becomes contaminated. The scientist stops using the rad
- November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q19(d)(i) (1 mark): The power output generated increases with the mass of Pu-238. This is a graph of power output against mass of Pu-238: 600 400 Power Output (W) 200 0 0 200 400 6
- November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q19(d)(ii) (2 marks): Pu-238 was used to generate electricity on a probe that went to Neptune. The half-life of Pu-238 is 88 years. Suggest why Pu-238 was used on the probe that went
- November 2021, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(a) (1 mark): Pu-238 can be used to produce electricity: • The Pu-238 undergoes radioactive decay. • This causes the temperature of the plutonium to increase. • Electricity i
- November 2021, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(d)(i) (2 marks): A different isotope of plutonium is used in nuclear fission. Describe how a chain reaction occurs in nuclear fission. [2]
- November 2021, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(d)(ii) (1 mark): Nuclear fusion occurs in the Sun. Describe what is meant by nuclear fusion. [1]
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10 (1 mark): Which statement about nuclear fission is correct? A An example is when hydrogen is converted to helium. B It may happen when a nucleus absorbs a neutron. C The
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q18(d)(i) (2 marks): Doctors wear a lead apron when they use radioactive isotopes. Explain why. [2]
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q18(d)(ii) (3 marks): Which radioactive isotope from Table 18.2 is best to use as a radioactive tracer in a patient’s body? Tick (✓) one box. Radon‑222 Iodine‑131 Cobalt‑60 Plutonium
- November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q15 (1 mark): Which statement about nuclear fusion is correct? A Energy is released because mass is converted to energy. B Helium is converted into hydrogen. C It is the main
- November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q20(c) (1 mark): When smoke enters a detector: • The smoke particles absorb the emitted alpha radiation. • The alarm sounds. Explain why beta and gamma sources are not suitable
- November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q20(d)(ii) (1 mark): Explain why the half-life of americium-241 is suitable for a smoke detector. [1]
- November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q20(d)(iii) (2 marks): The table shows some data for two radioactive sources. Source Half-life (years) Radiation emitted Americium-241 (Am-241) 432 Alpha Thorium-228 (Th-228) 2 Alpha
- November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q20(e) (2 marks): Read the information below about smoke detectors. In smoke detectors, fine particles of americium-241 are rolled into a metallic foil. The americium-241 cannot
- June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q23(b)(ii) (4 marks): Two scientists discuss the isotopes in the graph. Scientist 1 Scientist 2 ‘I think isotope A is more hazardous than ‘I think isotope B is more hazardous than B.
- June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q23(c)(i) (1 mark): Explain why this is nuclear fusion. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q23(c)(ii) (2 marks): It is difficult for nuclear fusion reactions to occur on Earth. Explain why nuclear fusion reactions occur in the Sun. [2]
- June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q5 (1 mark): The table gives some information about four radioactive isotopes. Which isotope is the best to use as a medical tracer? Half life Radiation emitted A 6 hours al
- June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q19(a)(i) (1 mark): What else is produced in this reaction? [1]
- June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q19(b)(i) (1 mark): Describe one similarity between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q19(b)(ii) (1 mark): Describe one difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q19(c) (2 marks): Nuclear fission can be used as a power source to produce electricity. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of using nuclear power to produce electricity. adv
- June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q17(a) (2 marks): Suggest two safety precautions that the teacher should use when demonstrating this experiment. 1. 2. [2]
- June 2018, Paper 4 Higher, Q4 (1 mark): Beta radiation is used to check the thickness of thin aluminium foil at a factory. Why is beta radiation used? A All electromagnetic radiation is reflected by a
- June 2018, Paper 4 Higher, Q19(a) (2 marks): Explain the difference between nuclear irradiation and nuclear contamination. [2]
- June 2018, Paper 4 Higher, Q19(b) (2 marks): Explain how the gamma rays can increase the ‘shelf-life’ of herbs and spices to make them last longer. [2]
- June 2018, Paper 4 Higher, Q19(c) (2 marks): Some people are worried about eating irradiated food. Write down two concerns they may have about irradiated food. 1. 2. [2]
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