The nuclear atom Flashcards
Definition - atom
A small dense nuclei of protons and neutrons surrounded by negatively charged electrons
How much larger is the entire atom than the nucleus
100,000 times bigger
Name an experiment to prove the structure of an atom
Rutherford’s experiment - a particle scattering
Explain what happens in Rutherford’s experiment
alpha particles are fired and a thin gold foil
The majority of particles go straight through the gold foil
Some are deflected at small angles as the +ve nucleus repels the alpha particles
A small amount are deflected straight back as the nucleus is very small
Nucleon number
The top number of an element
The combined number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus
Proton/mass number
The bottom number of an element
The total number of protons
This is equal to the number of the electrons
Definition - isotope
The same element with the same amount of protons but different number of neutrons
different nucleon number but same mass number
Explain nuclear fission
The fast breakdown of a large, unstable nuclei
How does nuclear fission occur
A nucleus requires energy, which happens by hitting the nucleus with a neutron
The neutrons are neutral in charge (0)
What happens after nuclear fission
The original nucleus breaks apart into two smaller “daughter” nuclei, along with two or three neutrons
These fission products carry away released energy in the form of kinetic energy
Explain nuclear fusion
When two small nuclei collide at high speed to form larger nuclei
This process releases energy
