1.1-1.4 - Atoms, Nuclei and Nuclear Decay (AQA A Level Physics)

Isotope

An atom of an element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Specific charge

Charge (C) / Mass (kg)

Nuclear radiation with the highest specific charge

Beta

What is a nucleon?

A proton or neutron in the nucleus

Why is the strong nuclear force required for nuclei to be stable?

Electrostatic repulsion of the protons in nucleus.

What is a Beta particle?

A high energy electron

How does a particle compare to its corresponding antiparticle?

Same mass, opposite charge.

Antiparticle of the electron

Positron

What happens to the nucleons during beta minus decay?

A neutron changes into a proton

Pair production

A photon is converted into a particle and its corresponding antiparticle

Maximum range of the Strong Nuclear Force

3 femtometres / 3x10⁻¹⁵m

Rest mass of a Gamma ray

Zero

Alpha particle

2 protons and 2 neutrons OR a helium nucleus

Gamma

A high energy photon emitted by the nucleus

Charge of a hydrogen +1 ion

+1.6x10⁻¹⁹C

Charge of a beta minus particle

-1.6x10⁻¹⁹C

Charge of an Alpha particle

+3.2x10⁻¹⁹C

Antiparticle of the neutron

Antineutron

Mass number (A)

The total number of nucleons in the atom

Atomic number (Z)

The number of protons in the atom

Changing the atomic number (Z)

Changes the element

A - Z

The number of neutrons in the atom

Nuclear radiation with the greatest rest mass

Alpha particle