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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
, 2
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
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
, 2
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
