IAS Course Notes: PHYSICS

27. Nuclear Physics

27. Nuclear Physics__________________________

Content
27.1 The nucleus
27.2 Isotopes
27.3 Nuclear processes

[AS]
[AS]
[AS]

Learning outcomes_____________________________________
Candidates should be able to:
(a) infer from the results of the -particle scattering experiment the existence
and small size of the nucleus
Evidence
1. Geiger-Marsden experiment
2. Very small number repelled by nucleus
3. Most pass straight through
4. Some repelled by positive nucleus.
Gold Foil (10-8m thick)

Beam of
alpha particles

Most pass
straight through

Source of
alpha particles

Some are deviated

through large angles

~1:8000
repelled back

De
te

Geiger and Marsdens Experiment

~1:8000
repelled back

+ve nucleus

DIPONT Educational Resource - Science

cto
r

Gold Atom

Some are deviated

through large angles
(the +ve alpha particles are
deviated by the +ve nucleus)

IAS Course Notes: PHYSICS

27. Nuclear Physics

(b) describe a simple model for the nuclear atom to include protons, neutrons
and orbital electrons

Relative Mass
Charge

Protons
1
+1

Neutrons
1
Neutral

Electrons
Negligible
-1

(c) distinguish between nucleon number and proton number

Nucleon number A:
Proton number Z:
Neutron number N:

The number of nucleons (Protons and Neutrons)

The number of protons in the nucleus
The number of neutrons in the nucleus

(d) show an understanding that an element can exist in various isotopic forms,
each with a different number of neutrons
Nuclide:
Isotope:
Nucleon:

An atom with a particular number of protons and neutrons

Isotopes are nuclides that contain the same number of protons, but
different numbers of neutrons.
Component of the nucleus = Protons and Neutrons

DIPONT Educational Resource - Science

IAS Course Notes: PHYSICS

27. Nuclear Physics

(e) use the usual notation for the representation of nuclides

NOTATION

Nucleon number

A
Z

Chemical Symbol

Proton number
EXAMPLE
12 nucleons

6 protons

12

6C

Carbon

(f) appreciate that nucleon number, proton number, and mass-energy are all
conserved in nuclear processes
In nuclear processes:
Nucleon number, proton number and mass-energy are all conserved
(g) represent simple nuclear reactions by nuclear equations of the form
14
4
17
1
7 N + 2 He --- 8 O + 1 H
Alpha decay.
A
Z

X ZA42 Y + 24

Example.
241
95

4
Am 237
93 Np + 2

Beta decay
A
Z

X Z +A1Y + 10 +

90
38

0
Sr 90
39Y + 1 +

Gamma decay
A
Z

X * ZA X + 00

(h) show an appreciation of the spontaneous and random nature of nuclear decay
Natural radioactive decay is the RANDOM process where an atom in a sample of
material emits alpha ( ), beta ( ) or gamma ( ) radiation, as the atom is
unstable.
The process cannot be predicted or affected by, for example, temperature.

DIPONT Educational Resource - Science

IAS Course Notes: PHYSICS

27. Nuclear Physics

(i) show an understanding of the nature and properties of -, - and - radiations

(+ is not included: - radiation will be taken to refer to )
Property

Alpha

Beta

Gamma

Description

Helium nuclei

~Ionising power
Penetration
(absorbed by)
Charge

High
Low (paper)

Electron from
the nucleus
Medium
Medium (5mm
Al)
-ve

Electromagnetic
radiation
Low
High (Thick lead)

+ve

None

(j) infer the random nature of radioactive decay from the fluctuations in count rate
The random nature of radioactive decay can be seen in the random fluctuations in count
rate (e.g. using a Geiger counter to measure radioactivity)

DIPONT Educational Resource - Science