The Atom - Organization of the Atom

Question 1

atom

Answer 1

• smallest particles of an element

Question 2

organization of the atom

Answer 2

• electron, protons, and neutrons
• protons and neutrons make up nucleus
• electrons are in motion around nucleus

Question 3

discoveries

Answer 3

• J.J.Thomson: 1897, Electron
• Ernest Rutherford: 1911, Nucleus
• 1920, Proton
• James Chadwick: 1932, Neutron
• Henry Moseley: 1913, Atomic Number (number of protons)

Question 4

strong nuclear force

Answer 4

• kind of like the glue that holds the protons together

Question 5

why do electrons not fall into the nucleus?

Answer 5

• In classical physics, electrons should fall into the nucleus even if they weren’t attracted by the charge of the proton. Early models of atoms had electrons orbiting the nucleus the way a planet orbits a sun. Orbiting in a circle means making a lot of changes of direction- which means acceleration.

Question 6

organization of atom

Answer 6

• atom, electron, nucleus, proton, neutron, Thomson, Rutherford, Chadwick, and Moseley