PHYSICS ALEVEL AQA Paper 1 Study Guide Exam Prep
PHYSICS ALEVEL AQA PAPER 1 STUDY GUIDE EXAM PREP NEWEST
2026/2027 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED
A+||BRAND NEW VERSION!!
What does radioactive mean?
unstable
Why can an atom be unstable? (3 points)
- too many particles - alpha (getting rid of particles)
- uneven balance of protons and neutrons - beta (changing neutrons
and protons)
- too much energy - gamma (getting rid of energy as gamma ray)
How do you tell if alpha particles are emitted?
- cloud chamber
- spark counter
What is a spark counter?
- fine metal gauze mounted from a thin wire
- a voltage is applied between the two so that sparking takes place
between them
- if an alpha-source is brought up close to the gauze it will ionise the air
1|Page
, PHYSICS ALEVEL AQA Paper 1 Study Guide Exam Prep
How far do beta decay particles go?
1-3 metres in the air
How were neutrinos discovered?
- some electrons had different kinetic energy when released as beta
decay
- someone suggested that the rest of the kinetic energy had been taken
by another particle - undetectable (later found and named neutrino)
What are the properties of a neutrino?
- no charge
- almost zero mass
- carries the *mysterious* energy as *kinetic energy*
What is an electromagnetic wave?
an electric field and magnetic field travelling at right angles to each
other
What are packets of EM waves called?
- photons (there are many of these)
What are photons?
particles of light energy
2|Page
, PHYSICS ALEVEL AQA Paper 1 Study Guide Exam Prep
What are the properties of photons?
- behave like particles
- no mass and no charge
Why are anti-particles rare?
When they come in contact with their corresponding particle, they
annihilate
What do matter and anti-matter have stored within their mass?
Lots of energy (E = mc^2)
- rest energy
- energy that is released in annihilation
What is rest energy?
the energy equivalent to the mass of a particle at rest
What are electronvolts?
eV - kinetic energy gained by an electron if it passes through a potential
difference of 1V
What is 1eV equal to?
1eV = 1.6 x 10^-19 J
What is a cloud chamber?
3|Page
, PHYSICS ALEVEL AQA Paper 1 Study Guide Exam Prep
It is a radiation detector capable of tracing the
path of ionising radiation.
What is beta minus decay?
- neutron becoming a proton,
- high energy electron ejected from nucleus (as well as an anti-neutrino)
When does beta minus decay occur?
- if a nucleus is 'neutron rich'
What is the same with every beta minus decay?
the amount of energy released
How far do beta minus decay particles travel?
1-3 metres in the air
What is specific charge?
4|Page
PHYSICS ALEVEL AQA PAPER 1 STUDY GUIDE EXAM PREP NEWEST
2026/2027 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED
A+||BRAND NEW VERSION!!
What does radioactive mean?
unstable
Why can an atom be unstable? (3 points)
- too many particles - alpha (getting rid of particles)
- uneven balance of protons and neutrons - beta (changing neutrons
and protons)
- too much energy - gamma (getting rid of energy as gamma ray)
How do you tell if alpha particles are emitted?
- cloud chamber
- spark counter
What is a spark counter?
- fine metal gauze mounted from a thin wire
- a voltage is applied between the two so that sparking takes place
between them
- if an alpha-source is brought up close to the gauze it will ionise the air
1|Page
, PHYSICS ALEVEL AQA Paper 1 Study Guide Exam Prep
How far do beta decay particles go?
1-3 metres in the air
How were neutrinos discovered?
- some electrons had different kinetic energy when released as beta
decay
- someone suggested that the rest of the kinetic energy had been taken
by another particle - undetectable (later found and named neutrino)
What are the properties of a neutrino?
- no charge
- almost zero mass
- carries the *mysterious* energy as *kinetic energy*
What is an electromagnetic wave?
an electric field and magnetic field travelling at right angles to each
other
What are packets of EM waves called?
- photons (there are many of these)
What are photons?
particles of light energy
2|Page
, PHYSICS ALEVEL AQA Paper 1 Study Guide Exam Prep
What are the properties of photons?
- behave like particles
- no mass and no charge
Why are anti-particles rare?
When they come in contact with their corresponding particle, they
annihilate
What do matter and anti-matter have stored within their mass?
Lots of energy (E = mc^2)
- rest energy
- energy that is released in annihilation
What is rest energy?
the energy equivalent to the mass of a particle at rest
What are electronvolts?
eV - kinetic energy gained by an electron if it passes through a potential
difference of 1V
What is 1eV equal to?
1eV = 1.6 x 10^-19 J
What is a cloud chamber?
3|Page
, PHYSICS ALEVEL AQA Paper 1 Study Guide Exam Prep
It is a radiation detector capable of tracing the
path of ionising radiation.
What is beta minus decay?
- neutron becoming a proton,
- high energy electron ejected from nucleus (as well as an anti-neutrino)
When does beta minus decay occur?
- if a nucleus is 'neutron rich'
What is the same with every beta minus decay?
the amount of energy released
How far do beta minus decay particles travel?
1-3 metres in the air
What is specific charge?
4|Page
