1: Particles 1

Atomic Structure and the Strong Nuclear Force

Paper 1
1. Simple model of the atom, including the proton, neutron and electron.
1: Particles 1
Atomic Structure and the SNF Charge and mass of the proton, neutron and electron in SI units and relative
units.
2: Particles 2 2. The atomic mass unit (amu) is included in the A-level Nuclear physics
Particle Classification section.
3. Specific charge of the proton and the electron, and of nuclei and ions.
3: Particles 3
Particle Interaction
4. Proton number Z, nucleon number A, nuclide notation.
5. Students should be familiar with the AZ X notation.
4: Quantum 6. Meaning of isotopes and the use of isotopic data.
Photoelectric, Energy Levels and WPD 7. The strong nuclear force; its role in keeping the nucleus stable; short-range
attraction up to approximately 3 fm, very-short range repulsion closer than
5: Waves 1
Wave Basics and Stationary Waves approximately 0.5 fm.
8. Unstable nuclei; alpha and beta decay.
6: Waves 2 9. Equations for alpha decay, β− decay including the need for the neutrino.
Interference and Diffraction 10. The existence of the neutrino was hypothesised to account for conservation
of energy in beta decay.
7: Waves 3 11. For every type of particle, there is a corresponding antiparticle.
Refraction and Fibre Optics
12. Comparison of particle and antiparticle masses, charge and rest energy in
8: Mechanics 1 MeV.
Scalars, Vectors and Moments 13. Students should know that the positron, antiproton, antineutron and
antineutrino are the antiparticles of the electron, proton, neutron and neutrino
9: Mechanics 2 respectively.
Motion and Newton’s Laws 14. Photon model of electromagnetic radiation, the Planck constant.
hc
10: Mechanics 3 E=hf =
Momentum and Energy λ
15. Knowledge of annihilation and pair production and the energies involved.
11: Materials 16. The use of E=m c2 is not required in calculations.
Hooke’s Law and the Young Modulus

12: Electricity 1
Resistivity and Superconductivity

13: Electricity 2
Series, Parallel and Potential Dividers

14: Electricity 3
Energy, EMF and Internal Resistance

15: Further Mechanics 1

Circular Motion

16: Further Mechanics 2

Simple Harmonic Motion
Monday: Stable and Unstable Nuclei Notes
 Tuesday: Atomic Structure and Specific Charge Exam Questions

M1. (a) (i) nucleon number is the number of protons and neutrons OR mass number
proton number is the number of protons OR atomic number
1

(ii) 14 – 6 = 8
1
–19 –27
(iii) specific charge = 6 × 1.6 × 10 /(14 × 1.66 × 10 )
specific charge = 4.1 × 107 (C kg–1)
3

(b) (i) isotopes are variations of an element that have same

proton/atomic number
but different nucleon number OR different number of neutrons
2

(ii) 4.8 × 107 = 6 × 1.6 × 10–19 /(A × 1.66 × 10–27)

A = 6 × 1.6 × 10–19/(4.8 × 107 × 1.66 × 10–27)
A = 12
Number of neutrons = 12 - 6
3
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M2. (i) protons = 20
neutrons = 28
electrons = 18
3

(ii) 2 × 1.6 × 10−19 = 3.2 × 10−19 (C)

-ve sign loses mark
1

(iii) specific charge = 3.2 × 10−19 / (48 ×; 1.67 × 10−27 +18 × 9.11 × 10−31)
specific charge = 4.0 × 106 C kg−1
Allow 1.66
Allow CE from (ii)
First mark is for mass if miss out electron mass and do not justify
lose first mark
2
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M3. (a) the ratio of charge to mass of nucleus

C kg−1
2

(b) (i) number of protons and neutrons the same or number of neutrons less or
mass the same
but more protons therefore greater charge
2

(ii) answers add up to 10

number of protons = 4
number of neutrons = 10 − 4 = 6
evidence of correct calculation
eg 5q = 1.25 × ?q
?=4
4
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M4. (a) isotopes (are varieties of the same element that) have the same number of
protons/atomic number/proton number (1)
but different numbers of neutrons/nucleons/atomic mass (1)
2

(b)
number specific charge of
of number of neutrons nucleus/
protons C kg (1)
–1

= 92 × 1.6 ×10–19 (1)

first /(92 × 1.67 × 10–27
92 143
isotope + 143 × 1.67 × 10–27) (1)
= 3.8 × 107 (1)

3.7 × 107 = 92 × 1.6 × 10–19 3.7 ×107

/(A × 1.67 × 10–27) (1)
A × 1.67 × 10–27 =
92 × 1.6 × 10–19/3.7 × 107
second
92 (1) A = 238 (1)
isotope
number of neutrons
= 238 – 92=146 (1) or
148 if used u or 147
(depends on rounding)
8
Year 12 Physics: Particles Extended Writing Task 1: Nuclear Model of the Atom
This work was done by ________________________________________ and was marked by __________________________________________

S D answer B answer A* answer

The atom is described as a central ...the nucleus accounts for less than 1%
...this gives the atom an overall charge
nucleus containing positive protons and of the entire atom/the nucleus is tiny
of zero/the atoms is hence uncharged…
neutral neutrons with negative compared to the atom (owtte).
electrons orbiting. The number of
The actual masses or charges are The actual masses and charges are
electrons is the same as the number of
given. given.
protons...
The notation is described as X being the ...in the nucleus. Z is also the number of ...A is named as the ‘nucleon number’.
chemical symbol, Z is the number of electrons that orbit the nucleus. The
protons and A is the number of protons number of neutrons is calculated by A – Examples are given.
and neutrons... Z...
An isotope is described as a different ...and their abundances (owtte).
...A (the nucleon number) is calculated
version of the same element. It contains
from the different isotopes that exist for
a different number of neutrons but the Examples are given.
each element...
same number of protons...
An ion is described as an atom with an
...an atom gaining electrons has an ...an atom losing electrons has an
overall charge due to gaining or losing
overall negative charge... overall positive charge.
electrons...
A photon is described as a ‘packet’ or
...h is named as the Planck constant and ...the word ‘discrete’ is used in the
‘chunk’ of energy given by the equation
f as the frequency... definition.
E=hf …
* mass is converted into energy. There
...where a particle and its antiparticle
Photons are released from annihilation... is a reference to the conservation of
touch and * convert in to energy...
mass-energy.
Develop… Grade Effort

T
Range
↓
Depth →
Order ⁝
Relevant
!
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 Wednesday: Atomic Structure and the SNF Definitions

Photon A ‘chunk’ of wave energy.

Repulsive The strong interaction at distances of closer than 0.5 fm is this.

Proton Number Isotopes of the same element have the same …

Nucleon The name of particles that are found in the nucleus.

Beta Plus A type of decay when a proton changes into a neutron.

Negative This type of ion is formed when an atom gains electrons.

Frequency The energy of a photon varies with this.

Annihilation When a particle meets an antiparticle. Mass is converted into energy (two photons).

Nucleon Numbers Isotopes of the same element have different …

Attractive The strong interaction at distances between 0.5 and 3 fm is this.

Positron The name for an anti-electron.

Specific Charge The charge to mass ratio of a particle, ion or nucleus.

Unstable These nuclei decay and emit radiation.

Nucleus Pair production needs to happen near this for momentum to be conserved.

Isotope Something with the same number of protons but different number of neutrons.

Pair Production When a photon is converted into a particle and its antiparticle.

Alpha Radiation equivalent to a helium nucleus or two protons and two neutrons.

Positive This type of ion is formed when an atom loses electrons.

Rest Energies As well as masses these are the same for a particle and its anti-particle.

Beta Minus A type of decay when a neutron changes into a proton.

Ion An atom that does have an overall charge.

Charges Particles and anti-particles have opposite …

Alpha Annihilation Attractive Beta Minus

Beta Plus Charges Frequency Ion
Isotope Negative Nucleon Nucleon Numbers
Nucleus Pair Production Photon Positive
Positron Proton Number Repulsive Rest Energies
Specific Charge Unstable

Thursday: Particles and Antiparticles Notes

 Friday: The Strong Nuclear Force and Decay Exam Questions
M5. (a) repulsive then attractive (1)
short range (if distance quoted must be of order fm) (1)
correct distance for cross over (accept range 0.1 – 1.0 fm) (1)
3

(b) (i) a helium nucleus (accept 2p and 2n) (1)

1

(ii) (↓92↑238) U → (↓90↑234)Th(+↓2↑4)α (1)

2

(c) (i) same atomic number/proton number (1)

different number of neutrons/nucleons (1)
2

(ii) evidence of subtraction of mass number or atomic number (1)

(thus atomic number decreases to) 76 (1)
(atomic number of lead is 82 therefore) 6 (82 – 76) beta decays (1)
3
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M6. (a)(i) 88 protons (1)
140 neutrons (1)
88 electrons (1)
3

(ii) electron (1)

1

(iii) (1)(1)(1)(1)
4

(b) 228 ± 10 (1)

88 (1)
2
[10]
M7. (i) same atomic number/number of protons
different mass/nucleon number/different number of neutrons
2

(ii)
2

(iv) strong nuclear force is short range

no effect at distances larger 3 fm (except any distance less than 10 fm)
2
[6]
M8.(a) (i) Q / boron / B ✓
1

(ii) P and R / R and P ✓

1

(iii) R✓
6 / 14 is smallest fraction / 0.43 smallest ratio / 4.13 × 107 C / kg ✓
Cannot get second mark if not awarded first mark
2

(iv)
One mark for each correct symbol on rhs
 Ignore −ve sign on e.
Can have neutrino with 0,0 on answer lines
Ignore any subscript on neutrino
3

(b) (i) repulsive below / at 0.5 fm (accept any value less or equal to 1 fm) ✓
attractive up to / at 3 fm (accept any value between 0.5 and 10 fm) ✓
short range OR becomes zero OR no effect ✓
Can get marks from labelled graph
Don't accept negligible for 3rd mark
3
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