Radius of an atom Electrons gained Electrons lost Ionising

Decay Range in air Penetration power

1 X 10-10m power
Negative ion Positive ion
Alpha Few cm Very strong Stopped by paper
Atom Same number of protons and electrons
Stopped by
Ion Unequal number of electrons to protons Beta Few m Medium
Aluminium
Mass number Number of protons and neutrons Gamma Great distances Weak Stopped by thick lead
Atomic number Number of protons Radioactive Unstable atoms randomly emit Changes in mass
decay radiation to become stable Decay Emitted from nucleus number and atomic
Particle Charge Size Found number
Detecting Use Geiger Muller tube
23 8
Neutron None 1 Alpha (α) Helium nuclei () -4 -2 92 𝑈 → 234 4
90 𝑇h + 2 𝐻𝑒
Unit Becquerel

Atom structure
In the nucleus
Proton + 1 Beta (β) Electron () 0 +1 14
𝐶→
14 0
𝑁 + −1𝑒
Ionisation All radiation ionises 6 7

Electron - Tiny Orbits the nucleus Gamma (γ) Electromagnetic wave 0 0 99

𝑇𝑐 → 99
43 43 𝑇𝑐 +𝛾

Atoms and Neutron Neutron -1 0

Isotope Atoms and Nuclear Contamination Unwanted presence of radioactive atoms
Isotopes Radiation Irradiation Person is in exposed to radioactive source
Different forms of an element with the same
number of protons but different number of neutrons
Half The time taken to lose half
AQA PHYSICS ONLY: Hazards life of its initial radioactivity
Discovery of the nucleus
ATOMIC and uses of Radioactive Sievert Unit measuring dose of radiation
Democritus Suggested idea of atoms as small spheres that cannot
be cut.
STRUCTURE emissions and of Constant low level environmental radiation,
background radiation Background e.g. from nuclear testing, nuclear power,
JJ Discovered electrons– emitted from surface of hot waste
Nuclear fission and fusion

Thomson metal. Showed electrons are negatively charged and

(1897) that they are much less massive than atoms. Different isotopes have
Uses Short half-lives used in high doses, long half lives used in low doses.
different half lives
Thomson Proposed ‘plum pudding’ model – atoms are a ball of
(1904) positive charge with negative electrons embedded in it. Isotope with short half life injected, allowed to circulate and collect
Tracers Used within body in damaged areas. PET scanner used to detect emitting radiation.
Geiger and Directed beam of alpha particles (He2+)at a thin sheet Must be beta or gamma as alpha does not penetrate the body.
Marsden of gold foil. Found some travelled through, some were
(1909) deflected, some bounced back. Radiation Used to treat illnesses Cancer cells killed by gamma rays. High dose used to kill cells.
therapy e.g. cancer Damage to healthy cells prevented by focussed gamma ray gun.
Used above evidence to suggest alpha particles
deflected due to electrostatic interaction between the Fuel rods Made of U-238, ‘enriched’ with U-235 (3%). Long and thin to allow neutrons to escape, hitting nuclei.
Rutherford very small charged nucleus, nucleus was massive.
(1911) Proposed mass and positive charge contained in Control rods Made of Boron. Controls the rate of reaction. Boron absorbs excess neutrons.
nucleus while electrons found outside the nucleus
which cancel the positive charge exactly. Concrete Neutrons hazardous to humans – thick concreate shield protects workers.

Suggested modern model of atom – electrons in Process repeats, chain

reaction formed
Nuclear energy

circular orbits around nucleus, electrons can change

PHYSICS ONLY:

Nuclear fission

Bohr orbits by emitting or absorbing electromagnetic Neutron hits U-235 nucleus, nucleus
(1913) radiation. His research led to the idea of some particles One large unstable
absorbs neutron, splits emitting two or
within the nucleus having positive charge; these were nucleus splits to make
three neutrons and two smaller nuclei.
named protons. two smaller nuclei Used in nuclear power
Process also releases energy.
stations
Chadwick Discovered neutrons in nucleus – enabling other
(1932) scientists to account for mass of atom.

better hope – brighter future

Two small nuclei join Difficult to do on Earth – huge
ar
n
 Radius of an atom Electrons gained Electrons lost Ionising
Range in air Penetration power
1 X 10-10m power
Negative ion Positive ion
Few cm Very strong Stopped by paper
Same number of protons and electrons
Stopped by
Unequal number of electrons to protons Few m Medium
Aluminium
Number of protons and neutrons Great distances Weak Stopped by thick lead
Number of protons Unstable atoms randomly emit Changes in mass
radiation to become stable Decay Emitted from nucleus number and atomic
Particle Charge Size Found number
Use Geiger Muller tube
23 8
None 1 Helium nuclei () -4 -2 92 𝑈 → 234 4
90 𝑇h + 2 𝐻𝑒
Becquerel

Atom structure
In the nucleus
+ 1 Electron () 0 +1 14
𝐶→
14 0
𝑁 + −1𝑒
All radiation ionises 6 7

- Tiny Orbits the nucleus Electromagnetic wave 0 0 99

𝑇𝑐 → 99
43 43 𝑇𝑐 +𝛾

Atoms and Neutron -1 0

Atoms and Nuclear Unwanted presence of radioactive atoms
Isotopes Radiation Person is in exposed to radioactive source
Different forms of an element with the same
number of protons but different number of neutrons
The time taken to lose half
AQA PHYSICS ONLY: Hazards of its initial radioactivity
Discovery of the nucleus
ATOMIC and uses of Radioactive Unit measuring dose of radiation
Suggested idea of atoms as small spheres that cannot
be cut.
STRUCTURE emissions and of Constant low level environmental radiation,
background radiation e.g. from nuclear testing, nuclear power,
Discovered electrons– emitted from surface of hot waste
metal. Showed electrons are negatively charged and
Nuclear fission and fusion

that they are much less massive than atoms. Different isotopes have
Short half-lives used in high doses, long half lives used in low doses.
different half lives
Proposed ‘plum pudding’ model – atoms are a ball of
positive charge with negative electrons embedded in it. Isotope with short half life injected, allowed to circulate and collect
Used within body in damaged areas. PET scanner used to detect emitting radiation.
Directed beam of alpha particles (He2+)at a thin sheet Must be beta or gamma as alpha does not penetrate the body.
of gold foil. Found some travelled through, some were
deflected, some bounced back.
Used to treat illnesses Cancer cells killed by gamma rays. High dose used to kill cells.
e.g. cancer Damage to healthy cells prevented by focussed gamma ray gun.
Used above evidence to suggest alpha particles
deflected due to electrostatic interaction between the
very small charged nucleus, nucleus was massive. Made of U-238, ‘enriched’ with U-235 (3%). Long and thin to allow neutrons to escape, hitting nuclei.
Proposed mass and positive charge contained in
nucleus while electrons found outside the nucleus Made of Boron. Controls the rate of reaction. Boron absorbs excess neutrons.
which cancel the positive charge exactly.
Neutrons hazardous to humans – thick concreate shield protects workers.
Suggested modern model of atom – electrons in Process repeats, chain
circular orbits around nucleus, electrons can change
reaction formed
Nuclear energy
PHYSICS ONLY:

orbits by emitting or absorbing electromagnetic Neutron hits U-235 nucleus, nucleus

radiation. His research led to the idea of some particles One large unstable
absorbs neutron, splits emitting two or
within the nucleus having positive charge; these were nucleus splits to make
three neutrons and two smaller nuclei.
named protons. two smaller nuclei Used in nuclear power
Process also releases energy.
stations
Discovered neutrons in nucleus – enabling other
scientists to account for mass of atom.
Two small nuclei join Difficult to do on Earth – huge
to make one larger amounts
better hope – brighter future
of pressure and temperature Occurs in stars
nucleus needed.
 Radius of an atom Decay
Negative ion Positive ion Alpha
Atom Beta
Ion Gamma
Mass number
Atomic number Radioactive
decay Decay
Particle Size
Detecting Alpha (α) 23 8
Neutron 1 92 𝑈 → 234 4
90 𝑇h + 2 𝐻𝑒
Unit

Atom structure
Beta (β) 14 14 0
Proton 1 𝐶→ 𝑁 + −1𝑒
Ionisation Gamma (γ)
6 7

Electron Tiny 99
43 𝑇𝑐 → 99
43 𝑇𝑐 +𝛾
Neutron
Atoms and
Isotope Atoms and Nuclear Contamination Unwanted presence of radioactive atoms
Isotopes Radiation Irradiation Person is in exposed to radioactive source

Half
AQA PHYSICS ONLY: Hazards life
Discovery of the nucleus
ATOMIC and uses of Radioactive Sievert
Democritus STRUCTURE emissions and of
Background
JJ
background radiation
Thomson
Nuclear fission and fusion

(1897) Uses
Thomson
(1904) Tracers

Geiger and Radiation

Marsden therapy
(1909)

Fuel rods
Rutherford
(1911) Control rods
Concrete

Bohr
Nuclear energy
PHYSICS ONLY:

Nuclear fission

(1913)

Chadwick
(1932)

better hope – brighter future

ar
n
 Atom structure
Atoms and
Atoms and Nuclear
Isotopes Radiation

AQA PHYSICS ONLY: Hazards

Discovery of the nucleus
ATOMIC and uses of Radioactive
STRUCTURE emissions and of
background radiation
Nuclear fission and fusion
Nuclear energy
PHYSICS ONLY:

better hope – brighter future