High School Physics Made Simple – the Atom

1.	Model of the Atom

a.	describe the work done by Dalton, Thomson, Rutherford, Chadwick and Bohr in establishing the modern view of the atom
b.	describe the Geiger–Marsden experiment, which established the nuclear structure of the atom
c.	recall that the nucleus contains positively charged particles (protons) and neutral particles (neutrons) of approximately equal mass
d.	state the approximate size of an atom


2.	Structure of the Atom

a.	sketch the structure of simple atoms
b.	compare the charge and mass of the electron with the charge and mass of the proton
c.	explain why an atom is normally neutral and stable
d.	represent diagrammatically the structure of simple atoms
e.	relate the shell model of the atom to the Periodic Table
f.	recall that an atom of any element in the Periodic Table has one more proton than an atom of the element before it
g.	recall and use the relationship A = Z + N
h.	use the standard notation for representing a nuclide
i.	explain what is meant by the term ‘isotope’


3.	Emmission from the Nucleus

a.	describe Marie Curie’s work in the field of radioactivity
b.	recall that the decay process is independent of conditions outside the nucleus
c.	discuss the need for safety measures in handling and using radio-isotopes
d.	describe how a cloud chamber works
e.	describe how a Geiger–Muller tube works
f.	recall the nature of the three types of emissions from radioactive substances
g.	describe experiments to compare the ranges of alpha, beta and gamma emissions in various media
h.	predict the effects of magnetic and electric fields on the motion of alpha and beta particles and gamma rays
i.	describe the appearance of the tracks of radioactive emissions in a cloud chamber
j.	associate radioactivity with nuclear instability
k.	represent and interpret nuclear reactions of the form
l.	discuss the uses and dangers associated with emissions from the nucleus

4.	Half Life

a.	describe an experiment from which a radioactive decay curve can be obtained
b.	define the term ‘half-life’
c.	perform analogue experiments to illustrate random ‘decay’ processes
d.	use graphs of random decay to show that such processes have a constant half-life
e.	work through simple problems on half-life
f.	discuss the useful applications of radio-isotopes

5.	Energy from the Nucleus


a.	associate the release of energy in a nuclear reaction with a change in mass
b.	work out problems using Einstein’s equation E = mc2
c.	relate the processes of fi ssion and fusion to E = mc2
d.	describe the main features of a nuclear power plant and the significance of critical mass
e.	discuss problems associated with the operation of a nuclear power plant
f.	discuss problems posed by radioactive waste
g.	advance arguments for and against the utilisation of nuclear energy