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Nuclear energy: WJEC A‑Level Physics questions

Every WJEC A-Level Physics exam question on 3.6 Nuclear energy, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,173 questions

  1. Q4(a)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    1 mark3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 4(a): Circle the region of the most stable nuclide. [1]

  2. Q4(b)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    1 mark3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 4(b): [1]

  3. Q4(c)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    6 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 4(c): Use the graph to explain why energy is released during nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. [6 QER]

  4. Q4(d)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    4 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 4(d): 1H) may be used in future nuclear fusion power stations. 2 3 4 1 1H 1H 2He 0n + + Calculate the energy released in this nuclear fusion reaction. Give your answe

  5. Q4(e)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    3 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 4(e): The UK government is investing £220 million to fund the first phase of the UK’s first prototype nuclear fusion energy power station. Discuss whether this is a g

  6. Q1(a)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    4 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 1(a): Calculate the energy released in this reaction giving your answer in MeV. [4]

  7. Q1(b)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    3 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 1(b): If 1.2 kg of U undergoes this reaction, show that the total energy released is 92 approximately 8.5 × 1013 J. [3]

  8. Q1(c)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    3 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 1(c): An engineer at a nuclear power station claims that over two billion 11 W light bulbs could be powered for 1 hour by the energy released in part (b). Discuss whe

  9. Q5(a)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    4 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 5(a): Nuclear energy can be released by fusion and fission. Discuss these processes in terms of energy and the stability of the nuclei. Use the graph of the binding e

  10. Q5(b)(ii)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    5 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 5(b)(ii): Calculate the energy released by the fission of 0.0010 kg of uranium-235 in this reaction. Give your answer in J. [5]

  11. Q1(b)

    Summer 2022 · Unit 3

    5 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 Unit 3, question 1(b): Radium-226 decays into radon. 226 222 4 Ra Rn + α 88 86 2 Assuming that 98 % of the energy released in this process is converted to the kinetic energy of the al

  12. Q6(b)

    Summer 2019 · Unit 3

    4 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2019 Unit 3, question 6(b): Calculate the binding energy per nucleon for Sr. [4] 38 mproton = 1.007 276 u mneutron = 1.008 664 u melectron = 0.000 549 u 90 atomic mass of Sr = 89.907 738 u

  13. Q4(a)

    Summer 2018 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2018 Unit 3, question 4(a): A fission nuclear reaction for uranium is: 1 235 1 92 141 U + n Kr + Ba + 3 n 0 92 0 36 56 The masses of the nuclei are: 235 mass of U = 235.01 u 92 92 mass of

  14. Q4(b)

    Summer 2018 · Unit 3

    6 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2018 Unit 3, question 4(b): Explain carefully the relevance of the binding energy per nucleon curve to nuclear fission and fusion. [6 QER]

  15. Q2(a)

    Summer 2017 · Unit 3

    4 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2017 Unit 3, question 2(a): Nuclear energy can be released by fusion or fission. Describe these processes by considering the graph of the binding energy per nucleon plotted against the nuc

  16. Q2(b)

    Summer 2017 · Unit 3

    3 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2017 Unit 3, question 2(b): The fusion of hydrogen to helium in the Sun may be represented by: 1 4 4 H + 2e– → He + 2 νe 1 2 Particle Mass / u 1 1.00728 H 1 4 4.00151 He 2 e– 0.00055 νe 0.

  17. Q2(c)

    Summer 2017 · Unit 3

    3 marks3.6 Nuclear energy
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2017 Unit 3, question 2(c): Nuclear power has played a role in the generation of electricity in Wales. Wylfa Newydd on Anglesey may feature in further developments. Indicate a benefit and
All 17 questions on Nuclear energy, as a list
  1. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q4(a) (1 mark): Circle the region of the most stable nuclide. [1]
  2. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q4(b) (1 mark): [1]
  3. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q4(c) (6 marks): Use the graph to explain why energy is released during nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. [6 QER]
  4. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q4(d) (4 marks): 1H) may be used in future nuclear fusion power stations. 2 3 4 1 1H 1H 2He 0n + + Calculate the energy released in this nuclear fusion reaction. Give your answe
  5. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q4(e) (3 marks): The UK government is investing £220 million to fund the first phase of the UK’s first prototype nuclear fusion energy power station. Discuss whether this is a g
  6. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q1(a) (4 marks): Calculate the energy released in this reaction giving your answer in MeV. [4]
  7. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q1(b) (3 marks): If 1.2 kg of U undergoes this reaction, show that the total energy released is 92 approximately 8.5 × 1013 J. [3]
  8. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q1(c) (3 marks): An engineer at a nuclear power station claims that over two billion 11 W light bulbs could be powered for 1 hour by the energy released in part (b). Discuss whe
  9. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q5(a) (4 marks): Nuclear energy can be released by fusion and fission. Discuss these processes in terms of energy and the stability of the nuclei. Use the graph of the binding e
  10. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q5(b)(ii) (5 marks): Calculate the energy released by the fission of 0.0010 kg of uranium-235 in this reaction. Give your answer in J. [5]
  11. Summer 2022, Unit 3, Q1(b) (5 marks): Radium-226 decays into radon. 226 222 4 Ra Rn + α 88 86 2 Assuming that 98 % of the energy released in this process is converted to the kinetic energy of the al
  12. Summer 2019, Unit 3, Q6(b) (4 marks): Calculate the binding energy per nucleon for Sr. [4] 38 mproton = 1.007 276 u mneutron = 1.008 664 u melectron = 0.000 549 u 90 atomic mass of Sr = 89.907 738 u
  13. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q4(a) (2 marks): A fission nuclear reaction for uranium is: 1 235 1 92 141 U + n Kr + Ba + 3 n 0 92 0 36 56 The masses of the nuclei are: 235 mass of U = 235.01 u 92 92 mass of
  14. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q4(b) (6 marks): Explain carefully the relevance of the binding energy per nucleon curve to nuclear fission and fusion. [6 QER]
  15. Summer 2017, Unit 3, Q2(a) (4 marks): Nuclear energy can be released by fusion or fission. Describe these processes by considering the graph of the binding energy per nucleon plotted against the nuc
  16. Summer 2017, Unit 3, Q2(b) (3 marks): The fusion of hydrogen to helium in the Sun may be represented by: 1 4 4 H + 2e– → He + 2 νe 1 2 Particle Mass / u 1 1.00728 H 1 4 4.00151 He 2 e– 0.00055 νe 0.
  17. Summer 2017, Unit 3, Q2(c) (3 marks): Nuclear power has played a role in the generation of electricity in Wales. Wylfa Newydd on Anglesey may feature in further developments. Indicate a benefit and

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