Atomic and Nuclear Physics

Question 1

Atom

Answer 1

The smallest part of an element that can exist on its own

Question 2

Charge

Answer 2

The property that causes electrical effects

Question 3

Plum pudding model 🧁

Answer 3

Negative electrons spread throughout the atom like currents in a bun - positive charge that we spread throughout the atom 🧁

Question 4

Observations for Rutherford nuclear experiment

Answer 4

• most of the particles went straight through the foil
• A few alpha particles were slightly deflected
• Some were deflected through very large angles
• 1 in 8000 were “back scattered”

Question 5

radioactivity

Answer 5

radioactivity is the process that occurs when alpha particles, beta particles or gamma waves are emitted from an unstable nucleus

Question 6

alpha particles

Answer 6

the helium nuclei containing two protons and two neutrons which are emitted by radioactive nuclei

Question 7

beta particles

Answer 7

beta particles are fast-moving electrons emitted by radioactive nuclei

Question 8

gamma radiation

Answer 8

gamma radiation is a high-energy electromagnetic wave emitted by radioactive nuclei

Question 9

Nature of alpha particle

Answer 9

Each particle is two protons, and two neutrons nucleus of helium – 4

Question 10

Source of alpha particles

Answer 10

A radioactive nucleus

Question 11

Relative charge of an alpha particle compared with charge on proton

Answer 11

+2

Question 12

Mass of alpha particle compared with beta

Answer 12

High

Question 13

Speed of alpha particle

Answer 13

Up to 0.1 x speed of light

Question 14

Ionising effect of alpha particle

Answer 14

Strong 💪

Question 15

Penetrating effect of alpha particle

Answer 15

Very low penetrating power, stopped by a few cms of air or thin tissue paper

Question 16

Nature of beta particle

Answer 16

A fast electron

Question 17

Source of beta particle

Answer 17

A radioactive nucleus

Question 18

Beta particle relative charge compared with the charge on a proton

Answer 18

–1

Question 19

Beta particle mass

Answer 19

Low

Question 20

Speed of beta particle

Answer 20

Around 10% the speed of light

Question 21

Ionising effect of beta particle

Answer 21

Weak

Question 22

Penetrating Effect of beta particle

Answer 22

Penetrating but stopped by a few millimetres of aluminium or other metal

Question 23

Nature of Gamma rays

Answer 23

Very high-energy electromagnetic waves

Question 24

Source of gamma rays

Answer 24

A radioactive nucleus

Question 25

Relative charge of gamma rays compared to charge on proton

Answer 25

0

Question 26

Mass of gamma rays

Answer 26

0

Question 27

Speed of gamma rays

Answer 27

Speed of light

Question 28

Ionising effect of gamma rays

Answer 28

Very weak

Question 29

Penetrating effect of gamma rays

Answer 29

Very .Never completely stopped although lead and thick concrete will reduce intensity

Question 30

Background activity

Answer 30

Comes from natural sources, e.g cosmic rays from space, rocks and soil

Question 31

How is radioactive material passed along the food chain?

Answer 31

Living things and plants absorb radioactive material from the soil, which are than passed along the food chain

Question 32

How does human behaviour add to background activity?

Answer 32

- Medical x-rays 🩻 - radioactive waste from nuclear power plants ☢️ 🌱 - radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons testing 🕳️ 🏃‍♀️

Question 33

Background radiation

Answer 33

All natural sources of radiation

Question 34

Examples of background radiation

Answer 34

- Inside our bodies 🫁 - Radioactive elements in Food, potassium 🍌 - certain rocks contain uranium - Cosmic rays

Question 35

What are all isotopes of uranium?

Answer 35

Radioactive

Question 36

What do all isotopes of uranium decay to give?

Answer 36

Radon, a radioactive gas

Question 37

Nuclear fission

Answer 37

The process of uranium nucleus absorbing a slow electron, and then splitting to produce two or more lighter nuclei and several neutrons together with a vast quantity of energy

Question 38

What causes nuclear fission?

Answer 38

Are you uranium nucleus is struck by a slow neutron

Question 39

Controlled nuclear fission

Answer 39

Steps are taken a nuclear power stations to ensure that on average, just one of the fission neutrons goes on to produce further fission

Question 40

What can nuclear energy do?

Answer 40

Produces vast amounts of energy/electricity

Question 41

How does nuclear energy not contribute to global warming?

Answer 41

Produces very little CO2

Question 42

What produces the “base-load” for national electricity generation?

Answer 42

Nuclear energy

Question 43

What is a high- density source of energy?

Answer 43

Nuclear energy

Question 44

What provides employment opportunities for many people?

Answer 44

Nuclear energy

Question 45

What are many nations planning on building?

Answer 45

More nuclear reactors 🏭