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physics paper 1 > Topic 4 - Atomic Structure and Radioactivity > Flashcards

Topic 4 - Atomic Structure and Radioactivity Flashcards

1
Q

Give an approximation for the radius of an atom.

A

1x10−10 metres

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2
Q

Where is most of the mass of an atom concentrated?

A

In the nucleus.

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3
Q

Approximately what proportion of the total radius of an atom is the radius of the nucleus?

A

1/10000

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4
Q

Describe the arrangement of protons, neutrons and electrons in an atom.

A
  • the nucleus contains protons and neutrons
  • the is a positive charge
  • the nucleus is surrounded by electrons in energy levels
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5
Q

energy levels

A

Electrons lie at different distances from the nucleus (different energy levels).

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6
Q

What type of charge does the nucleus of an atom

have? Why?

A

-The nucleus contains protons and neutrons
=Positive charge

Protons have a positive charge

Neutrons have no charge

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7
Q

explain how energy levels affect energy

A

energy levels which are further away from the nucleus are at a higher energy

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8
Q

Give two ways that an atom’s electron arrangement can be changed.

A

Absorbing electromagnetic radiation

Emitting electromagnetic radiation

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9
Q

Explain how an atom’s electron arrangement

changes when it absorbs EM radiation.

A

atoms can absorb electromagnetic radiation this excites the electrons and cause if to move from a lower energy level to a higher energy level

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10
Q

Explain how an atom’s electron arrangement

changes when it emits EM radiation.

A

when atoms can emit electromagnetic radiation. it loses the energy and returns back to its original energy level

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11
Q

How does the ratio of electrons to protons in an atom result in the atom having no overall charge?

A

●The number of protons is equal to the number of electrons

● Protons and electrons have equal and
opposite charges, so charge cancels

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12
Q

What do all forms of the same element have in common?

A

They all have the same number of protons.

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13
Q

What is the name given to the number of protons in an atom?

A

Atomic Number

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14
Q

What is an atom’s mass number?

A

The total number of protons and neutrons in the atom.

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15
Q

What is an isotope of an atom?

A

isotopes are atoms of the same element that have a different number of neutrons but the same number of protons

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16
Q

How do atoms turn into positive ions?

A
  • atoms can lose electrons from their outer shell/energy level
  • Electrons are negatively charged
  • so the charge of the atom is positive
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17
Q

What may lead to a scientific model being changed or replaced?

A

The discovery of new experimental

evidence which doesn’t agree with the existing theory.

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18
Q

How did the plum-pudding model describe the atom?

A

an atom is a ball of positive charge with negative electrons embedded in it

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19
Q

Prior to the discovery of the electron, what was believed about the atom?

A

atoms cannot be divided

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20
Q

1800 john dalton

A

everything was made of tiny spheres of atoms that could not be divided

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21
Q

1897-jj Thomson

A

discovery of electrons

suggested the plum pudding model

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22
Q

Which experiment led to the plum-pudding model being discarded?

A

Rutherford’s alpha scattering experiment.

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23
Q

rutherford discovered that

A

most of the atom was empty space

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24
Q

describe the alpha scattering particle

A

a beam of alpha particles was fired at a thin gold foil
MOST- alpha particles went straight through
SOME- alpha particles slightly deflected
FEW-alpha particles repelled

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25
Q

why did they use gold?

A

because they were able to hammer the gold out into thin foil

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26
Q

State the conclusions of the Alpha-Scattering experiment.

A

most alpha particles went straight through therefore the atoms are mainly empty space

some alpha particles were deflected therefore the centre of an atom must have a positive charge

some alpha particles repelled so that Most of the mass of the atom is
concentrated at the centre in the nucleus

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27
Q

the plum pudding model was replaced for the …

A

nuclear model

alpha scattering particles took place as well

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28
Q

Neil Bohr finalised the theory by

A

produced the final model of the atom that electrons orbit around the nucleus at a specific distance

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29
Q

What did James Chadwick’s experiments on the atom prove?

A

discovered that the nucleus also contains neutrons these have no overall charge they are neutral

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30
Q

so the updated nuclear model concludes that

A

electrons orbit around the nucleus at a specific point

the positive charge is due to the tiny positive particles called protons

the nucleus also contains neutrons

so atoms have no overall charge

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31
Q

Why do unstable nuclei give out radiation?

A

● Unstable nuclei undergo decay to become more stable

● As they release radiation their stability increases

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32
Q

define radioactive decay

A

some isotopes have an unstable nucleus and to become stable it gives out radiation

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33
Q

why can’t scientists predict when a nucleus will decay

A

radioactive decay is a totally random process

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34
Q

Define the activity of an unstable nucleus.

A

activity is the rate at which a source of unstable nuclei decay

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35
Q

What is the unit of radioactive activity?

A

Becquerel (Bq)

1Bq=1 decay per second

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36
Q

Give an example of a detector that may be used to measure count-rate.

A

Give an example of a detector that may be used to measure count-rate.

37
Q

What is count-rate?

A

The number of decays per

second

38
Q

State four types of nuclear radiation.

A
  1. Alpha particles
  2. Beta particles
  3. Gamma rays
  4. Neutrons
39
Q

What does an alpha particle consist of?

A

Two protons and two neutrons

40
Q

an alpha particle is the same as an …

A

It is the same as a helium nucleus

41
Q

What is the range of an alpha particle through the air?

A

A few centimetres

42
Q

beta particle

A

beta radiation is an electron ejected from the nucleus this happens because the neutron splits into protons and electrons

43
Q

where is a beta particle formed?

A

inside the nucleus when a neutron splits into a proton and an electron

44
Q

gamma particle

A

gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation that emits from the nucleus

45
Q

properties of alpha particles

A
  • alpha particles can travel few centimetres in air
  • weakly penetrating
  • stopped by paper
  • highly ionising
46
Q

What will stop beta radiation from passing through a point?

A

● A thin sheet of aluminium

● Several metres of air

47
Q

Describe the nature of radioactive decay.

A

● Random

● It is impossible to predict which nuclei will decay

48
Q

properties of beta particles

A
  • can travel further they reach around 15 cm
  • medium penetration
  • stopped by thin sheet of aluminium
  • medium ionising
49
Q

properties of gamma particles

A
  • travels very far in air before stopping
  • highly penetration
  • low ionising
  • stopped by lead
50
Q

What will stop beta radiation from

passing through a point?

A

● A thin sheet of aluminium

● Several metres of air

51
Q

What will stop gamma radiation from passing through a point?

A

● Several centimetres of lead

● A few metres of concrete

52
Q

Which type of radiation is most ionising?

A

Alpha radiation.

53
Q

Which type of radiation is the least ionising?

A

Gamma radiation.

54
Q

State any changes to mass or charge

that occur due to the emission of a gamma-ray.

A

Both mass and charge remain

unchanged.

55
Q

Nuclear Equations alpha particles :

A

4(take away 4)
He
2 (take away 2 )

56
Q

Nuclear Equations beta particles

A

0 (stays the same
e
-1 (add one)

57
Q

rules for alpha decay

A

the atomic number - number at he bottom decrease by 2

- the mass number decrease by 4

58
Q

the symbol for alpha decay

A

-4
α
2

59
Q

rules for beta decay

A

the atomic number increases by one but the mass number does not change

60
Q

Gamma Decay:

A

Does not cause the mass or charge to change.

this is because in the nucleus the high frequency electronic magnetic wave means that no particles are emitted

61
Q

Define the half-life of a radioactive isotope.

A

● The time it takes for the number of
unstable nuclei in a substance to halve
● The time it takes for the count rate
from a sample to fall to half its initial level

62
Q

So if 80 atoms fall to 20 over 10mins, the half-life?

A

o 80/2 = 40
o 40/2 = 20 – so two half lives in 10mins
 So half-life is 5mins

63
Q

What is irradiation?

A

The process of exposing a material to nuclear radiation

The material does not become radioactive

64
Q

Medical items are irradiated

A

to kill bacteria

65
Q

what can ionising radiation do

A

increase the risk of cancer

66
Q

what are the precaution of ionising radiation

A
  • shielding
  • lead apron
  • radiation monitor
  • leave the room
67
Q

What is radioactive contamination?

A

The presence of unwanted radioactive

nuclei on other materials.

68
Q

Why is it important for the results of studies on the
effects of radiation to be published and shared with
other scientists?

A

To allow the findings to be
independently checked
This is known as peer review

69
Q

J.J. Thomson discovered this sub-atomic particle in 1897.

A

electrons

70
Q

James Chadwick discovered this sub-atomic particle in 1932.

A

neutrons

71
Q

Ernest Rutherford discovered this sub-atomic particle in 1909.

A

proton

72
Q

what is an ion

A

ions are charged particles that form when an atom either loses or gains electrons , ions are either positive or negatively charged

73
Q

negative ions

A

are created when an atom gains electrons

74
Q

positive ions

A

are created when an atom loses electrons

75
Q

What subatomic particle has to be lost or gained for an atom to become charged?

A

Electron

76
Q

Detecting Radioactivity

There are three primary ways of detecting radioactivity.

A

Cloud chamber
Photographic film
Geiger counter (Geiger-Muller tube)

77
Q

How does photographic film detect radiation?

A

a bright spot appears where ionising radiation hits the film

78
Q

How does the cloud chamber detect radiation?

A

A cloud chamber is a container full of supersaturated alcohol vapour.

79
Q

how does the Geiger-Muller tube (Geiger counter) detect radiation

A

Ionising radiation enters a tube full of low-pressure gases.
It ionises the atoms in the gas, knocking electrons out of the atoms.
The gas can now conduct electricity and completes an electric circuit. Current flows between electrodes.
The current produces a clicking noise.
The count-rate is the number of decays recorded each second.

80
Q

Practical Applications of Radiation-gamma

A

Sterilisation

We can use gamma radiation to sterilise medical equipment in hospitals. Sterilisation kills bacteria and viruses.

81
Q

Practical Applications of Radiation-alpha radiation

A

Smoke detectors
A radioactive material fires alpha particles at a smoke detector.
If there is smoke between the radioactive material and the smoke detector, then fewer alpha particles will reach the detector.
This will set off the smoke alarm.

82
Q

How is blood flow in the body imaged using radiation?

A

Gamma-emitting isotopes are injected into the body.
We can trace the gamma-emitting particles as they travel in the blood around the body.
We can use the detected signal to image the organs in the body.

83
Q

Adjusting for background radiation

A

substance radiation=total radiation−background radiation then divide 2

84
Q

If the background count rate is 85, and the initial count rate is 1065, what is the count rate at the half-life?

A

Substance initial count rate = 980.

So half-life is the time when the corrected count rate is 490, or the uncorrected count rate is 575.

85
Q

further away it is from the nucleus

A

the higher the energy level

86
Q

the closer it is to the nucleus

A

the lower the energy level

87
Q

atomic number

A

smaller number
number of protons
number at the bottom

88
Q

atomic mass

A

larger number

number of p and n

physics paper 1 (4 decks)

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