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Cambridge IGCSE

Physics
Revision Guide 2024

Unit 5 Nuclear Physics

Mohammed Ali
[Physics with Mo Ali]

Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 5

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Nuclear Model of the Atom
1 Describe the structure of an atom in terms of a positively charged nucleus and negatively charged electrons in orbit
around the nucleus
2 Know how atoms may form positive ions by losing electrons or form negative ions by gaining electrons
3 Describe how the scattering of alpha (α) particles by a sheet of thin metal supports the nuclear model of the atom, by
providing evidence for:
a. a very small nucleus surrounded by mostly empty space
b. a nucleus containing most of the mass of the atom
c. a nucleus that is positively charged
4 Describe the composition of the nucleus in terms of protons and neutrons
5 State the relative charges of protons, neutrons and electrons as +1, 0 and –1 respectively
6 Define the terms proton number (atomic number) Z and nucleon number (mass number) A and be able to calculate
the number of neutrons in a nucleus

7 Use the nuclide notation 𝑨𝒁𝑿

8 Explain what is meant by an isotope and state that an element may have more than one isotope
9 Describe the processes of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion as the splitting or joining of nuclei, to include the
nuclide equation and qualitative description of mass and energy changes without values
10 Know the relationship between the proton number and the relative charge on a nucleus
11 Know the relationship between the nucleon number and the relative mass of a nucleus

Structure of the Atom

Atom consists of a nucleus, with protons and neutrons inside, and Particle Relative Charge Relative Mass
electrons orbiting the nucleus. Proton +1 1𝑢
Neutron 0 1𝑢
Electron -1 1⁄2000 𝑢

Atoms of different elements are represented using the nuclide notation.

Define Isotope: An atom with the same proton number but a different nucleon number (number of neutrons).
*Note: All elements have more than one isotope (example: )

Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 5

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Alpha Scattering Experiment (Gold foil experiment)
Observations:
1. Most alpha particles were undeflected
2. Some alpha particles were deflected
3. A very small number of alpha particles were deflected backwards
Conclusions:
1. There is a very small nucleus surrounded by mostly empty space
2. The nucleus that is positively charged
3. The nucleus containing most of the mass of the atom

Nuclear Fission and Fusion

Define Nuclear Fission: The splitting of a large nucleus into smaller nuclei
𝟐𝟑𝟓 𝟏𝟒𝟏 𝟗𝟐
𝟗𝟐𝑼 + 𝟏𝟎𝒏 → 𝟓𝟔𝑩𝒂 + 𝟑𝟔𝑲𝒓 + 𝟑 𝟏𝟎𝒏

Define Nuclear Fusion: The joining of two small nuclei into a larger nucleus
𝟐 𝟑
𝟏𝑯 + 𝟏𝑯 → 𝟒𝟐𝑯𝒆 + 𝟏𝟎𝒏

From March 2023 Paper 22

Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 5

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From March 2023 Paper 42

From June 2023 Paper 41 Question 9

Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 5

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Radioactive Decay
Types of Radiation
1 Describe the emission of radiation from a nucleus as spontaneous and random in direction
2 Identify alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ) emissions from the nucleus by recalling:
a. their nature
b. their relative ionising effects
c. their relative penetrating abilities (β+ are not included, β-particles will be taken to refer to β-)
3 Describe the deflection of α-particles, β-particles and γ-radiation in electric fields and magnetic fields
4 Explain their relative ionising effects with reference to:
a. kinetic energy
b. electric charge
The Process of Radioactive Decay
1 Know that radioactive decay is a change in an unstable nucleus that can result in the emission of α-particles or β-
particles and/or γ-radiation and know that these changes are spontaneous and random
2 State that during α-decay or β-decay, the nucleus changes to that of a different element
3 Know that isotopes of an element may be radioactive due to an excess of neutrons in the nucleus and/or the nucleus
being too heavy
4 Describe the effect of α-decay, β-decay and γ-emissions on the nucleus, including an increase in stability and a
reduction in the number of excess neutrons; the following change in the nucleus occurs during β-emission neutron →
proton + electron
5 Use decay equations, using nuclide notation, to show the emission of α-particles, β-particles and γ-radiation
Background Radiation
1 Know what is meant by background radiation
2 Know the sources that make a significant contribution to background radiation including:
a. radon gas (in the air)
b. rocks and buildings
c. food and drink
d. cosmic rays
3 Know that ionising nuclear radiation can be measured using a detector connected to a counter
4 Use count rate measured in counts / s or counts / minute
5 Use measurements of background radiation to determine a corrected count rate
Safety Precautions
1 State the effects of ionising nuclear radiations on living things, including cell death, mutations and cancer
2 Describe how radioactive materials are moved, used and stored in a safe way
3 Explain safety precautions for all ionising radiation in terms of reducing exposure time, increasing distance between
source and living tissue and using shielding to absorb radiation

Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 5

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Types of Radiation
The nucleus of an unstable isotope can emit three types of radioactive emissions.
This process is random and spontaneous.
Random: Amount of radiation emitted by a nucleus is not constant.
Spontaneous: Is not affected by external factors.
α-particles β-particles γ-rays
Nature 2 protons + 2 neutrons 1 electron electromagnetic wave
Relative mass 4 1/2000 0
Relative charge +2 -1 0
Atomic Notation 4 4 0 0 none
2𝐻𝑒 or 2𝛼 −1𝑒 or −1𝛽
Ionising power very strongly strongly very weakly
Range in air a few centimeters several meters several kilometers
Absorbed by sheet of paper thick aluminium very thick lead

Alpha particles are the most ionizing because they have the most mass, kinetic energy and electric charge.
Beta particles are less ionizing than alpha because they have less mass, kinetic energy and electric charge.
Gamma rays are very weakly ionizing because they have no mass, very little kinetic energy and no charge.
Deflection of Radiation in Electric and Magnetic fields

Process of Radioactive Decay

Define: A process where the nucleus of an unstable isotope emits radiation in order to become more stable, causing a
change in the nucleus.

Alpha Decay: 𝑨𝒁𝑿 → 𝟒𝟐𝜶 + 𝑨−𝟒

𝒁−𝟐𝒀 Nucleus loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons. Changes to a different element.
𝟎
Beta Decay: 𝑨𝒁𝑿 → −𝟏𝜷 + 𝒁+𝟏𝑨𝒀 Nucleus loses 1 neutron and gains 1 proton. Changes to a different element.
𝒏𝒆𝒖𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏 → 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒏 + 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏
Gamma Decay: Has no equation. No change in nucleon or proton number.

Background Radiation
Define: Radiation that is present all around us in the environment, even in the absence of radioactive sources.
Sources of background radiation:
1. radon gas (in the air)
2. rocks and buildings
3. food and drink
4. cosmic rays
Radiation is measured using a detector connected to a counter, giving us readings in counts/s or counts/min.
Calculating corrected count rate: 𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 = 𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 − 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈

Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 5

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Safety Precautions
Radioactive emissions can cause:
1. cell death
2. mutations
3. cancer
Safety precautions taken when dealing with radioactive sources:
1. Increasing the distance between the source and any living tissue.
2. Reduce the exposure time as much as possible.
3. Radiation can be absorbed by using a shield or a screen (usually made of lead).
4. When storing or transferring radioactive substances, use lead or lead lined containers that are locked.

From June 2023 Paper 43

From June 2023 Paper 21

Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 5

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Half-life
1 Define the half-life of a particular isotope as the time taken for half the nuclei of that isotope in any sample to decay;
recall and use this definition in simple calculations, which might involve information in tables or decay curves
(calculations will not include background radiation)
2 Calculate half-life from data or decay curves from which background radiation has not been subtracted
3 Explain how the type of radiation emitted and the half-life of an isotope determine which isotope is used for
applications including:
a. household fire (smoke) alarms
b. irradiating food to kill bacteria
c. sterilisation of equipment using gamma rays
d. measuring and controlling thicknesses of materials with the choice of radiations used linked to penetration and
absorption
e. diagnosis and treatment of cancer using gamma rays

Define Half-life: Time taken for half of the nuclei of an isotope to decay

Some isotopes have long half-lives (thousands of years) others have very short half-lives (a few seconds).
Finding Half-life from Graphs

*Note: When solving half-life questions, notice if the values include background or not. If background is part of the
value (detector reading), then you must remove the background count from all values before dividing to find half-life.

Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 5

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Applications of Radioactivity
a. household fire (smoke) alarms: Uses alpha particles with a long half-life. A small radioactive source emits alpha
particles, which ionizes air particles in the detector. This allows a small current to flow between two plates in the
detector. When smoke enters, it absorbs the alpha particles, stopping the current and the alarm is triggered.

b. irradiating food to kill bacteria: Gamma radiation with a long half-life. Gamma radiation is used to kill bacteria in
canned foods to prolong shelf life.
c. sterilisation of equipment using gamma rays: Gamma radiation (sometimes beta) with long half-life. Used to kill
bacteria on medical equipment to ensure they are sterile.
d. measuring and controlling thicknesses of materials with the choice of radiations used linked to penetration
and absorption: Beta particles with a long half-life.
1. Beta particles pass through a sheet of material.
2. If the reading decreases more than normal, sheet
is too thick.
3. If the reading increases more than normal, sheet
is too thin.
e. diagnosis and treatment of cancer using gamma rays: for diagnosis, gamma rays with short half-life. Patients are
injected with this gamma source so it must have a short half-life. Gamma rays for treatment are used in the form of a
high-energy beam, aimed towards the cancerous tumor.

From June 2023 Paper 21

From March 2023 Paper 22

Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 5

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From June 2023 Paper 42

Cambridge IGCSE Physics Revision Guide by Mo Ali – Unit 5