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Mass defect and nuclear binding energy past paper questions

A2 Physics 9702 · Nuclear physics. 1 understand the equivalence between energy and mass as represented by E = mc2 and recall and use this equation 2 represent simple nuclear reactions by nuclear equations of the form N He O H 7 14 2 4 8 17 1 1 " + + 3 define and use the terms mass defect and binding energy 4 sketch the variation of binding energy per nucleon with nucleon number 5 explain what is meant by nuclear fusion and nuclear fission 6 explain the relevance of binding energy per nucleon to nuclear reactions, including nuclear fusion and nuclear fission 7 calculate the energy released in nuclear reactions using E = c2∆m

In Cambridge A Level A2 Physics 9702, Mass defect and nuclear binding energy came up in 19 of the 42 papers on Paperstreak, for about 6 marks a paper when it does. It last came up in October/November 2025.

Often set with Radioactive decay, Stellar radii, Standard candles, Energy and momentum of a photon.

20 questions, newest first

  1. 9702/41/O/N/25 Question 8 part (b(i)) · 3 marks
  2. 9702/42/O/N/25 Question 9 parts (a) (b) (c(i)) · 8 marks
  3. 9702/43/O/N/25 Question 8 part (b(i)) · 3 marks
  4. 9702/42/F/M/25 Question 9 part (c) · 2 marks
  5. 9702/42/O/N/24 Question 10 parts (b(i)) (b(ii)) · 5 marks
  6. 9702/42/M/J/24 Question 9 · 13 marks
  7. 9702/42/F/M/24 Question 8 parts (a) (b(i)) (b(ii)) · 5 marks
  8. 9702/41/O/N/23 Question 9 · 10 marks
  9. 9702/43/O/N/23 Question 9 · 10 marks
  10. 9702/42/M/J/23 Question 9 parts (a) (b(i)) (b(ii)) · 6 marks
  11. 9702/42/F/M/23 Question 8 part (a) · 2 marks
  12. 9702/41/O/N/22 Question 10 part (c) · 2 marks
  13. 9702/43/O/N/22 Question 10 part (c) · 2 marks
  14. 9702/41/M/J/22 Question 8 · 12 marks
  15. 9702/43/M/J/22 Question 8 · 12 marks
  16. 9702/42/F/M/22 Question 9 part (c(ii)) · 1 mark
  17. 9702/42/F/M/22 Question 12 part (c) · 1 mark
  18. 9702/42/O/N/20 Question 12 · 7 marks
  19. 9702/42/M/J/20 Question 12 · 8 marks
  20. 9702/42/F/M/20 Question 12 parts (a) (b(i)) (b(ii)) (b(iii)) · 5 marks

More in Nuclear physics: Radioactive decay.

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