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Nuclear Physics Summary Notes: Atomic Structure

Atoms have a central, dense nucleus containing most of the atom’s mass. Radioactive substances give out radiation from their atoms all the time in a spontaneous process. Nuclear equations must balance atomic and mass numbers on both sides of the arrow. The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time it takes for half of the atoms in a sample to decay.

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43 views2 pages

Nuclear Physics Summary Notes: Atomic Structure

Atoms have a central, dense nucleus containing most of the atom’s mass. Radioactive substances give out radiation from their atoms all the time in a spontaneous process. Nuclear equations must balance atomic and mass numbers on both sides of the arrow. The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time it takes for half of the atoms in a sample to decay.

Uploaded by

Shelly Aggarwal
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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NUCLEAR PHYSICS SUMMARY NOTES

ATOMIC Symbol in Name of Relative Relative If you change the number of these,
STRUCTURE diagram constituent charge mass the atom becomes a different:

Atoms have a central, dense nucleus containing most of the atom’s mass. Most of the atom is empty space.

ATOMS AND RADIATION


Radioactive substances give out radiation from the __________ of
their atoms all the time, whatever is done to them. This process is
__________ and does not depend on temperature, mass, etc.
Background radiation is around us all the time. The sources of
background radiation are in the pie charts to the right.

Radiation type

4 4 0 0
Symbol
2α or 2He −1β or −1e γ
What it is
Relative
ionising power

Range in air

Uses

Dangerous
when
Penetration properties:

Deflection in an electric field: Deflection in a magnetic field:


NUCLEAR PHYSICS SUMMARY NOTES
For nuclear equations, always ensure the atomic number sums to the same
number on both sides of the arrow and the mass number sums to the same
number on both sides of the arrow:
238
92U → 42α + _____Th 14
6C → 0
−1β + _____N
_____ _____

8 _____ _____
3Li → _____ + 84Be 226
88Ra → _____ + 222
86Rn
_____ _____

The half-life of a radioactive isotope is _____________________________________________________________


_____________________________________________________________________________________________

To determine half-life graphically: To determine half-life numerically:

When a questions asks you to show your work in


determining the half-life, they mean you get a mark for
drawing the lines on the graph.
NUCLEAR FISSION is the splitting of an atomic nucleus. NUCLEAR FUSION is the joining of two atomic nuclei to
There are two fissionable substances in common use in form a larger one, naturally occurring in stars. Stars form
nuclear reactors. The majority of reactors use uranium- when enough dust and gas from space is pulled together
235, however, some use plutonium-239. For fission to by gravitational attraction. Smaller masses may form
occur, the nucleus undergoing fission must first absorb a and be attracted by a larger mass to become planets.
neutron. This nucleus then splits into two smaller nuclei,
During the ‘main sequence’ phase, a star fuses hydrogen.
releasing 2 or 3 neutrons and energy (gamma rays). The
These stars are stable because the forces within it are
neutrons may go on to start a chain reaction, like this:
balanced. Fusion processes in stars produce all of the
naturally occurring elements (up to iron, heavier
elements are formed in supernovae). These elements
may be distributed throughout the Universe by a
supernova.

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