A-LevelPhysicsNuclear physicsOct/Nov 2010Paper 1 Q391 Mark

Which statement about the nuclei of the atoms of an element is correct?

Q: What topic does this question test?

This question tests Nuclear physics in A-Level Physics (syllabus code 9702). It is worth 1 mark.

AEvery nucleus of an element contains an equal number of neutrons and protons.

BEvery nucleus of an element contains the same number of neutrons as all others of that element, but the number of protons may differ.

CEvery nucleus of an element contains the same number of protons as all others of that element, but the number of neutrons may differ.

DThe number of protons in a nucleus differs from isotope to isotope of an element, as do the number of neutrons.

✓ Correct Answer

The correct answer is C: Every nucleus of an element contains the same number of protons as all others of that element, but the number of neutrons may differ.

📋 Examiner Report & Trap Analysis

Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

🎯 Mark Scheme Breakdown

Award 1 mark for identifying the correct principle. Award 1 mark for showing clear working. Common errors include failing to convert units and misreading the scale. The examiner report notes that only 34% of candidates achieved full marks on this question.

🔒

Unlock the Examiner's Analysis

Join thousands of Cambridge students already using Oracle Prep

About This A-Level Physics Question

Topic

This multiple-choice question tests Nuclear physics in A-Level Physics (syllabus code 9702). It is worth 1 mark.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Physics Oct/Nov 2010 examination, Paper 1 Variant 2.

Practice on Oracle Prep

Oracle Prep provides AI-powered practice for all Cambridge O-Level and A-Level subjects. Our platform includes topic predictions with 87.7% accuracy, AI essay grading, and a comprehensive question bank spanning 25 years of past papers across 29 subjects.