AQA A-LEVEL PHYSICS 7408/1 Paper 1 Question Paper + Mark scheme [MERGED] June 2026

AQA A-LEVEL PHYSICS 7408/1 Paper 1 Question Paper + Mark scheme [MERGED] June 2026

AQA

A-LEVEL

PHYSICS

7408/1

Paper 1

Question Paper + Mark scheme [MERGED]

June 2026

*JUN227408101*

IB/M/Jun22/E12 7408/1

For Examiner’s Use

Question Mark

1

2

3

4

5

6

7–31

TOTAL

 Time allowed: 2 hours

Materials

For this paper you must have:

• a pencil and a ruler

• a scientific calculator

• a Data and Formulae Booklet

• a protractor.

Instructions

• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.

• Fill in the boxes at the top of this page.

• Answer all questions.

• You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write

outside the box around each page or on blank pages.

• If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of

this book. Write the question number against your answer(s).

• Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want

to be marked.

• Show all your working.

Information

• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.

• The maximum mark for this paper is 85.

• You are expected to use a scientific calculator where appropriate.

• A Data and Formulae Booklet is provided as a loose insert.

Please write clearly in block capitals.

Centre number Candidate number

Surname

Forename(s)

Candidate signature

I declare this is my own work.

A-level

PHYSICS

Paper 1

2

*02*

IB/M/Jun22/7408/1

Do not write

outside the Section A box

Answer all questions in this section.

0 1 Two stable isotopes of helium are 4

2

He and 3

2

He.

0 1 . 1 An atom of 4

2

He is produced in a rock that contains uranium. It is produced following

the radioactive decay of a 238

 92U atom. The decay also creates an atom of

thorium (Th).

Write an equation for the decay of 238

 92U.

[2 marks]

238

 92U →

0 1 . 2 A 3

2

He nucleus can be produced by the decay of a tritium nucleus 3

1

H.

State and explain which exchange particle is responsible for this decay.

[2 marks]

Do not write

outside the

box

3

*03*

Turn over â–º

IB/M/Jun22/7408/1

Do not write

outside the

Helium was discovered by analysing the light in the box absorption spectrum of the Sun.

Figure 1 shows the positions of the brightest lines, labelled A to F, in the emission

spectrum of helium. The brightest lines in the emission spectra of sodium and

hydrogen are also shown.

Figure 1

0 1 . 3 Before helium was identified, some scientists suggested that the lines of the helium

spectrum seen in the absorption spectrum of the Sun were due to the presence of

sodium and hydrogen.

Discuss, with reference to the lines A to F in Figure 1, the evidence for and against

this suggestion