Skip to main content
A-LevelPhysicsNuclear physicsFeb/Mar 2018Paper 4 Q138 Marks

(a) (i) Define radioactive decay constant. (ii) Show that the decay constant λ is related to the half-life t_½ of a radioactive isotope by the expression λt_½ = In2 (b) A small volume of solution containing the radioactive isotope sodium-24 (²⁴₁₁Na) has an initial activity of 3.8 × 10⁴ Bq. Sodium-24, of half-life 15 hours, decays to form a stable daughter isotope. All of the solution is poured into a container of water. After 36 hours, a sample of water of volume 5.0 cm³, taken from the container, is found to have an activity of 1.2 Bq. Assuming that the solution of the radioactive isotope is distributed uniformly throughout the container of water, calculate the volume of water in the container.

📋 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

Sign up for free to reveal the full examiner report, trap analysis, and mark scheme breakdown for this question.

Sign Up Free to Unlock →

Join thousands of Cambridge students already using Oracle Prep

About This A-Level Physics Question

Topic

This structured question tests Nuclear physics in A-Level Physics (syllabus code 9702). It is worth 8 marks.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Physics Feb/Mar 2018 examination, Paper 4 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.

Related Physics Questions

© 2026 Oracle Prep — The AI-Powered Cambridge Exam Engine