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Radioactive decay past paper questions

A2 Physics 9702 · Nuclear physics. 1 understand that fluctuations in count rate provide evidence for the random nature of radioactive decay 2 understand that radioactive decay is both spontaneous and random 3 define activity and decay constant, and recall and use A = λN 4 define half-life 5 use λ = 0.693 / t 2 1 6 understand the exponential nature of radioactive decay, and sketch and use the relationship x = x0e–λt, where x could represent activity, number of undecayed nuclei or received count rate

In Cambridge A Level A2 Physics 9702, Radioactive decay came up in 30 of the 42 papers on Paperstreak, for about 7 marks a paper when it does. It last came up in May/June 2025.

Often set with Mass defect and nuclear binding energy, PET scanning, Field of a point charge, Wave-particle duality.

30 questions, newest first

1. 9702/41/M/J/25 Question 9 · 10 marks
2. 9702/42/M/J/25 Question 10 · 9 marks
3. 9702/43/M/J/25 Question 9 · 10 marks
4. 9702/42/F/M/25 Question 9 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (b) (d(i)) (d(ii)) · 6 marks
5. 9702/41/O/N/24 Question 9 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (a(iii)) · 5 marks
6. 9702/42/O/N/24 Question 10 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (a(iii)) · 3 marks
7. 9702/43/O/N/24 Question 9 parts (a(ii)) (a(iii)) · 4 marks
8. 9702/41/M/J/24 Question 9 · 8 marks
9. 9702/43/M/J/24 Question 9 · 8 marks
10. 9702/42/F/M/24 Question 8 parts (b(iii)) (b(iv)) · 4 marks
11. 9702/42/O/N/23 Question 9 parts (c(i)) (c(ii)) · 5 marks
12. 9702/41/M/J/23 Question 9 · 9 marks
13. 9702/43/M/J/23 Question 9 · 9 marks
14. 9702/42/F/M/23 Question 8 parts (b(i)) (b(ii)) (b(iii)) (b(iv)) (c) · 9 marks
15. 9702/41/O/N/22 Question 10 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (b(i)) (b(ii)) (b(iii)) (b(iv)) (b(v)) · 8 marks
16. 9702/43/O/N/22 Question 10 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (b(i)) (b(ii)) (b(iii)) (b(iv)) (b(v)) · 8 marks
17. 9702/42/M/J/22 Question 10 · 11 marks
18. 9702/42/F/M/22 Question 9 parts (a) (b(i)) (b(ii)) (b(iii)) (c(i)) · 10 marks
19. 9702/41/O/N/21 Question 12 · 7 marks
20. 9702/42/O/N/21 Question 12 · 8 marks
21. 9702/43/O/N/21 Question 12 · 7 marks
22. 9702/41/M/J/21 Question 6 part (c) · 3 marks
23. 9702/42/M/J/21 Question 5 part (c) · 3 marks
24. 9702/43/M/J/21 Question 6 part (c) · 3 marks
25. 9702/42/F/M/21 Question 12 · 6 marks
26. 9702/41/O/N/20 Question 12 · 9 marks
27. 9702/43/O/N/20 Question 12 · 9 marks
28. 9702/41/M/J/20 Question 12 · 8 marks
29. 9702/43/M/J/20 Question 12 · 8 marks
30. 9702/42/F/M/20 Question 12 part (c) · 3 marks

More in Nuclear physics: Mass defect and nuclear binding energy.

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