What this topic covers

Medical physics is topic 24 of the Cambridge 9702 syllabus (2025–2027), covering the production and use of ultrasound, the production and use of X-rays, and PET scanning. It is A Level content, examined in Paper 4 (A Level Structured Questions), which carries 38.5% of the A Level. Students commonly struggle with the piezoelectric production of ultrasound, specific acoustic impedance and intensity reflection coefficients, and the exponential attenuation of both ultrasound and X-rays. X-ray questions also test image contrast and the principles of CT scanning, while PET scanning requires an understanding of tracers, positron–electron annihilation and the detection of gamma-ray photons. Although applied in context, the topic rests firmly on core physics, rewarding clear and precise explanation.

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Questions in this topic

• 9702/41/O/N/24 Q9 — Fluorine-18 decay and medical imaging · 10 marks
• 9702/43/O/N/24 Q9 — radioactive decay and medical imaging · 10 marks
• 9702/42/M/J/24 Q10 — ultrasound and acoustic impedance · 7 marks
• 9702/43/M/J/24 Q8 — X-rays and photons · 13 marks
• 9702/42/O/N/23 Q9 — radioactive decay and PET scanning · 12 marks
• 9702/41/M/J/23 Q8 — acoustic impedance and reflection · 8 marks
• 9702/42/M/J/23 Q10 — X-ray production and absorption · 9 marks
• 9702/43/M/J/23 Q8 — acoustic impedance and ultrasound · 8 marks
• 9702/42/F/M/23 Q9 — ultrasound and impedance · 9 marks
• 9702/41/O/N/22 Q7 — AC circuits and piezoelectric effect · 10 marks
• 9702/43/O/N/22 Q7 — AC circuits and piezoelectric effect · 10 marks
• 9702/41/M/J/22 Q9 — X-rays in medical diagnosis · 9 marks
• 9702/42/M/J/22 Q2 — Coulomb's law and positronium · 13 marks
• 9702/43/M/J/22 Q9 — X-rays in medical diagnosis · 9 marks
• 9702/41/O/N/21 Q11 — X-ray imaging · 7 marks
• 9702/42/O/N/21 Q11 — piezoelectric transducer and acoustic impedance · 7 marks
• 9702/43/O/N/21 Q11 — X-ray imaging · 7 marks
• 9702/41/M/J/21 Q4 — use of ultrasound · 5 marks
• 9702/41/M/J/21 Q11 — X-ray intensity and absorption · 7 marks
• 9702/42/M/J/21 Q11 — CT scanning · 6 marks
• 9702/43/M/J/21 Q4 — use of ultrasound in diagnostics · 5 marks
• 9702/43/M/J/21 Q11 — X-ray intensity and absorption · 7 marks
• 9702/42/F/M/21 Q8 — magnetic fields and NMRI · 8 marks
• 9702/42/F/M/21 Q11 — X-ray production and absorption · 10 marks
• 9702/41/O/N/20 Q4 — ultrasound in medical diagnosis · 8 marks
• 9702/43/O/N/20 Q4 — ultrasound in medical diagnosis · 8 marks
• 9702/41/M/J/20 Q4 — ultrasound waves · 7 marks
• 9702/42/M/J/20 Q5 — ultrasound waves in medical diagnosis · 7 marks
• 9702/43/M/J/20 Q4 — ultrasound waves · 7 marks
• 9702/42/F/M/20 Q4 — ultrasound in medical diagnosis · 8 marks

Showing the 30 most recent of 42. The PDF includes all of them.

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