A Level Physics

A LEVEL
PHYSICS
INTRODUCTION
RUTHERFORD SCATTERING EXPERIMENT
 Introduction to positively charged nucleus
which contains all mass of the atom.
 Nucleus is surrounded by negatively
charged electrons.
Results of the experiment
 Majority of α particles passed straight
the foil with no deflection which
indicated that most of the space inside
the atom is empty.
 Very few (1 in 10000) particles
deflected through angles in excess of
90°. Which indicates that nucleus is
very small.
Alpha particles are positively charged with mass about
8000 times greater than electron.
Large deflections of alpha particles were due to
interaction with much massive bodies than themselves.
Estimated diameter of nucleus ~ 10-14 to 10-15m
Estimated diameter of atom ~ 10-10m
Sub atomic particles
CHARGE MASS POSITION
In the
PROTON +1 1
nucleus
In the
NEUTRON 0 1
nucleus
In the outer
ELECTRON -1 1/1840
atom
Charge on proton = + 1.6 x 10-19 C

Charge on electron = - 1.6 x 10-19 C
Chemical elements
 Chemical properties of different elements depend on
number of protons and neutrons.
 Proton number (Z): Number of protons.
 Nucleon number (A): number of protons and
neutrons.
 Nuclides: Nucleus with specific nucleon number
and specific proton number.
 Isotopes: elements having same number of
protons but different number of neutrons.
E.g.
37Cl has 37 nucleon number and 17 proton
17
number
Number of neutrons = Z – A = 37 – 17 = 20
Radioactive decay
 Some nuclides are unstable and decay by
emitting radiation called radioactive decay.
Alpha
decay
Beta
Gamma Radioactive
decay plus
decay
decay
Beta
minus
decay
Radioactive decay
Remember that all particles have an antiparticle whose mass is the same as
particle but with opposite charge.
Deflection of the radiation
 α and β particles have charge hence are
deflected in electric and magnetic field.
 α particles being heavy and twice the
charge of β particles, hence are deflected
less.
 γ-rays have no charge hence, no
deflection.
 α and β+ are deflected in the same
direction and β- in the opposite direction.
 α- particles from particular source all have
same energy and all are deflected by the
same amount. β particles have a range of
energies hence have range of deflections.
Fundamental particles
The neutrino
 When β particle is emitted, another particle is emitted. This

particle has no charge and rest mass is called a neutrino.
 Β particle and neutrino share the energy in different
proportions.
 β+ decay emits neutrino
 β- decay emits antineutrino
Radioactive decay
Radioactive decay
Radioactive decay
Radioactive decay
Radioactive decay
Radioactive decay
Radioactivity
More on β decay
 β- decay occur when neutron decays
into proton.
On quark model, one of the up quark
converts into a down quark releasing an
electron and an antineutrino.
Total charge before and after decay is the

same.
Radioactivity
More on β decay
 β+ decay occur when proton decays into
neutron.
On quark model, one of the down quark
converts into an up quark releasing a
positron and an neutrino.
Total charge before and after decay is the

same.
Radioactive decay
Radioactive decay
Radioactive decay
Particle Classification
 Electrons, positrons, neutrinos and antineutrinos
are fundamental particles with no further structure.
 They are called ‘LEPTONS’ – Light ones.
 Protons, neutrons and their anti particles are not
fundamental particles hence have internal
structure.
They are known as ‘HADRONS’ – heavy ones.
There are different types of hadrons, each type
is made of different combinations f two or more
smaller particles called ‘QUARKS’.
Quarks
 There are six types of quarks each with
different properties such as upness,
downness or stangeness.
 Each quark type has both a particle and
an anti particle.
 Quarks make up protons, neutrons and
their anti-particles – up, down quarks.
 Strangeness is a property assigned to
strange particles.
 Hadrons produced in a collision of
protons had much longer life-time than
expected which gave raise to this
quark.
Quarks
Quarks
NAME SYMBOL CHARGE STRANGENESS
UP u + 2/3 e 0
DOWN d - 1/3 e 0
ANTIUP ഥ
𝐮 - 2/3 e 0
ANTIDOWN 𝐝ҧ + 1/3 e 0
STRANGE s - 1/3 e -1
ANTISTRANGE 𝐬ҧ + 1/3 e +1
Quarks
Charge on proton using quark model
Proton has up up down (uud) structure
(+2/3 e), (+2/3 e), (-1/3 e)
Total Charge = (+2/3 e) + (+2/3 e) + (-1/3 e)
Total Charge = 1 e

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What are the main components of an atom?

What are the main types of radioactive decay?

A LEVEL

CHARGE MASS POSITION

Charge on proton = + 1.6 x 10-19 C

 When β particle is emitted, another particle is emitted. This

Total charge before and after decay is the

Total charge before and after decay is the

NAME SYMBOL CHARGE STRANGENESS

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