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Half-life past paper questions

O Level Physics 5054 · Radioactivity. 1 Define the half-life of a particular isotope as the time taken for half the nuclei of that isotope in any sample to decay; recall and use this definition in calculations, which may involve information in tables or decay curves 2 Describe the dating of objects by the use of 14C 3 Explain how the type of radiation emitted and the half-life of the isotope determine which isotope is used for applications including: (a) household fire (smoke) alarms (b) irradiating food to kill bacteria (c) sterilisation of equipment using gamma rays (d) measuring and controlling thicknesses of materials with the choice of radiations used linked to penetration and absorption (e) diagnosis and treatment of cancer using gamma rays

In Cambridge O Level Physics 5054, Half-life came up in 27 of the 72 papers on Paperstreak, for about 2 marks a paper when it does. It last came up in May/June 2025.

Often set with The three types of emission, The nucleus, Radioactive decay, Detection of radioactivity.

29 questions, newest first

1. 5054/11/M/J/25 Question 37 · 1 mark
2. 5054/12/M/J/25 Question 38 · 1 mark
3. 5054/12/O/N/24 Question 38 · 1 mark
4. 5054/21/O/N/24 Question 8 part (c(i)) · 2 marks
5. 5054/22/O/N/24 Question 8 part (c) · 3 marks
6. 5054/21/M/J/24 Question 7 parts (b(iii)) (c) · 4 marks
7. 5054/22/M/J/24 Question 9 part (c(iii)) · 2 marks
8. 5054/11/O/N/23 Question 38 · 1 mark
9. 5054/12/O/N/23 Question 39 · 1 mark
10. 5054/11/M/J/23 Question 37 · 1 mark
11. 5054/11/M/J/23 Question 38 · 1 mark
12. 5054/12/M/J/23 Question 22 · 1 mark
13. 5054/21/M/J/23 Question 10 parts (b) (d) · 4 marks
14. 5054/11/O/N/22 Question 39 · 1 mark
15. 5054/12/O/N/22 Question 40 · 1 mark
16. 5054/22/O/N/22 Question 9 parts (c(iv)) (c(v)) · 5 marks
17. 5054/21/M/J/22 Question 9 parts (b(i)) (b(ii)) · 3 marks
18. 5054/22/M/J/22 Question 9 parts (c(i)) (c(ii)) · 5 marks
19. 5054/11/O/N/21 Question 38 · 1 mark
20. 5054/12/O/N/21 Question 38 · 1 mark
21. 5054/21/O/N/21 Question 10 part (c(iii)) · 4 marks
22. 5054/11/M/J/21 Question 39 · 1 mark
23. 5054/12/M/J/21 Question 40 · 1 mark
24. 5054/21/M/J/21 Question 10 parts (b(ii)) (b(iii)) (b(iv)) · 3 marks
25. 5054/11/O/N/20 Question 40 · 1 mark
26. 5054/12/O/N/20 Question 39 · 1 mark
27. 5054/22/O/N/20 Question 6 part (b(ii)) · 3 marks
28. 5054/11/M/J/20 Question 38 · 1 mark
29. 5054/11/M/J/20 Question 39 · 1 mark

More in Radioactivity: Detection of radioactivity, The three types of emission, Radioactive decay, Fission and fusion, Safety precautions.

Questions and mark schemes from Cambridge International past papers. Paperstreak isn't affiliated with Cambridge.