AQA A LEVEL PHYSICS PAPER 3 ACTUAL TEST
PAPER 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ What did cathode rays cause in discharge tubes? Answer: dark
space near cathode
◉ What are cathode rays deflected by, in low pressure discharge
tubes? (2) Answer: electric fields, magnetic fields
◉ What is a cathode ray? Answer: beam of electrons
◉ How do cold discharge tubes produce electrons? Answer: electric
field between cathode and anode
◉ When heated, conduction electrons in a metal gain energy and
leave the surface. What is this called? Answer: thermionic emission
◉ Which electrode do electrons accelerate towards in a cathode ray
tube? Answer: anode
◉ What is a quality of cathode ray tubes? Answer: evacuated
, ◉ What process causes electrons to be fired from an electron gun?
Answer: thermionic emission
◉ What is the kinetic energy of an electron as it is accelerated
between the cathode and anode in a cathode ray tube? Answer:
(1/2)mv^2 = eV
◉ How can you increase speed of electrons in a cathode ray tube?
Answer: increase p.d.
◉ How can you make an electron beam more intense in a cathode
ray tube? Answer: increase current
◉ Which has the larger specific charge? [hydrogen ion/electron]
Answer: electron
◉ How did J.J. Thomson measure the specific charge of electrons?
Answer: measured deflection in cathode ray tube using electric and
magnetic fields
◉ What equipment ensures electrons move in a straight line by
producing a magnetic field perpendicular to an electric field?
Answer: Helmholtz coils
PAPER 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ What did cathode rays cause in discharge tubes? Answer: dark
space near cathode
◉ What are cathode rays deflected by, in low pressure discharge
tubes? (2) Answer: electric fields, magnetic fields
◉ What is a cathode ray? Answer: beam of electrons
◉ How do cold discharge tubes produce electrons? Answer: electric
field between cathode and anode
◉ When heated, conduction electrons in a metal gain energy and
leave the surface. What is this called? Answer: thermionic emission
◉ Which electrode do electrons accelerate towards in a cathode ray
tube? Answer: anode
◉ What is a quality of cathode ray tubes? Answer: evacuated
, ◉ What process causes electrons to be fired from an electron gun?
Answer: thermionic emission
◉ What is the kinetic energy of an electron as it is accelerated
between the cathode and anode in a cathode ray tube? Answer:
(1/2)mv^2 = eV
◉ How can you increase speed of electrons in a cathode ray tube?
Answer: increase p.d.
◉ How can you make an electron beam more intense in a cathode
ray tube? Answer: increase current
◉ Which has the larger specific charge? [hydrogen ion/electron]
Answer: electron
◉ How did J.J. Thomson measure the specific charge of electrons?
Answer: measured deflection in cathode ray tube using electric and
magnetic fields
◉ What equipment ensures electrons move in a straight line by
producing a magnetic field perpendicular to an electric field?
Answer: Helmholtz coils
