2021 Paper 1

Question 1

What happens to the mass of the particles during nuclear fusion

Answer 1

It decreases

Question 2

During alpha decay what happens to atomic number

Answer 2

Decreases by 2

Question 3

What happens to atomic number during beta decay

Answer 3

Increases by 1

Question 4

How to prove something is directly proportional using a graph

Answer 4

The products will be constant.
—> times x and y values together at least 3 times and they will be the same

Question 5

What happens if a switch is not connected properly in a variable resistor

Answer 5

Current would be almost zero in the variable resistor as the switch has zero resistance

Question 6

Explain why pressure inside walls of a gas syringe decreases when volume of gas increases

Answer 6

Less particles hit the walls of container so less frequent collisions so a lower average force. Pressure is the total force per unit area

Question 7

Explain why someone could receive electric shock if they flew a kite near a power cable

Answer 7

There is a high electric field so air becomes ionised so kite could conduct charge to the person

Question 8

Explain why the actual energy needed to do something could be more than original energy

Answer 8

Energy can be dissipated

Question 9

How is looking at specific heat capacity different from looking at specific latent heat on a graph

Answer 9

Specific heat capacity = steepness of gradient
Latent heat = horizontal line

Question 10

How does nucleus fission occur

Answer 10

Unstable nucleus absorbs a neutron, causing nucleus to split
This forms 2 daughter nuclei
Also emits 2/3 neutrons and gamma radiation as well as energy.
Neutrons produced can now be absorbed by more unstable nuclei, triggering more fusion (chain reaction). Release alot of energy

Question 11

How does nucleus fusion occur

Answer 11

2 light nuclei joined to for heavier nucleus.
Some of the mass of nuclei can be converted into energy and released as radiation ( eg used in sun)