O Level Physics past papers › Topics

The nucleus past paper questions

O Level Physics 5054 · The nuclear model of the atom. 1 Describe the composition of the nucleus in terms of protons and neutrons 2 Describe how atoms form positive ions by losing electrons or negative ions by gaining electrons 3 Define the terms proton number (atomic number) Z and nucleon number (mass number) A and be able to calculate the number of neutrons in a nucleus 4 Explain the term nuclide and use the nuclide notation A ZX 5 Explain what is meant by an isotope and state that an element may have more than one isotope

In Cambridge O Level Physics 5054, The nucleus came up in 27 of the 72 papers on Paperstreak, for about 2 marks a paper when it does. It last came up in October/November 2025.

Often set with Radioactive decay, The three types of emission, Half-life, Detection of radioactivity.

28 questions, newest first

1. 5054/21/O/N/25 Question 8 part (a) · 2 marks
2. 5054/22/O/N/25 Question 8 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (b(i)) (b(ii)) · 5 marks
3. 5054/11/M/J/25 Question 35 · 1 mark
4. 5054/21/M/J/25 Question 8 part (a) · 2 marks
5. 5054/11/O/N/24 Question 38 · 1 mark
6. 5054/12/O/N/24 Question 36 · 1 mark
7. 5054/21/O/N/24 Question 8 part (b(ii)) · 1 mark
8. 5054/12/M/J/24 Question 38 · 1 mark
9. 5054/21/M/J/24 Question 7 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (a(iii)) · 3 marks
10. 5054/11/O/N/23 Question 35 · 1 mark
11. 5054/21/O/N/23 Question 8 part (a) · 1 mark
12. 5054/22/O/N/23 Question 9 part (b(i)) · 1 mark
13. 5054/11/M/J/23 Question 35 · 1 mark
14. 5054/12/M/J/23 Question 34 · 1 mark
15. 5054/12/M/J/23 Question 35 · 1 mark
16. 5054/21/O/N/22 Question 5 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (b) · 5 marks
17. 5054/22/O/N/22 Question 9 parts (b(i)) (b(ii)) · 2 marks
18. 5054/21/M/J/22 Question 9 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) · 3 marks
19. 5054/22/M/J/22 Question 9 part (a(i)) · 1 mark
20. 5054/12/O/N/21 Question 40 · 1 mark
21. 5054/21/O/N/21 Question 10 part (a) · 1 mark
22. 5054/11/M/J/21 Question 40 · 1 mark
23. 5054/21/M/J/21 Question 10 part (b(i)) · 2 marks
24. 5054/12/O/N/20 Question 40 · 1 mark
25. 5054/22/O/N/20 Question 6 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) · 3 marks
26. 5054/11/M/J/20 Question 37 · 1 mark
27. 5054/21/M/J/20 Question 7 part (b) · 2 marks
28. 5054/22/M/J/20 Question 7 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) · 2 marks

More in The nuclear model of the atom: The atom.

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