Unit five
Atomic physics
Mohammed Allam
Unit five: Atomic physics PHYSICS IGCSE
ch1: The nuclear atom
Geiger – Marsden ˈs experiment
Alpha particles are small particles with
positive charge, they were fired at a thin
gold foil, we use detector to find path of
alpha particles.
OBSERVATIONS & RESULTS:
Most particles could pass straight
with no deflection.
Because atom consists mainly of
empty space, size of nucleus is very
small compared with size of atom
Some particles deflected with small angles.
Due to repulsion with the positive central nucleus as the particles are
positively charged.
Very few particles were scattered back to the source.
Because positive central nucleus is heavy body so that it can scatter
back.
Structure of the atom
Any atom consists of nucleus and orbiting electrons around it with
negative charge. ( mass of proton =1840 electron )
The nucleus contains:
i) The protons: positive charged & have charge equal of the
electron
ii) The neutron: no charge & have mass equal of the proton
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Unit five: Atomic physics PHYSICS IGCSE
𝑨
Element: 𝒁𝑿
X = nuclide (chemical symbol for an element).
A = mass number (nucleon number): number of protons and neutrons
inside a nucleus.
Z = atomic number: number of protons (or electrons in its neutral atom)
Isotopes
There is atom of the same element with the same protons number but
different mass number due to different number of neutrons, only physical
𝟑
properties are different Ex: (
𝟏
𝟏𝑯
𝟐
𝟏𝑯 𝟏𝑯 , 𝟔𝟑𝑳𝒊 𝟕
𝟑𝑳𝒊 )
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Unit five: Atomic physics PHYSICS IGCSE
Chapter 2: Radioactivity
Most nuclei are stable because they contain the right balance between
protons & neutrons.
Unstable nuclei have either excess neutron; they emit radiation to
reach proper balance.
Types of radiation
Alpha particles Beta particles Gamma rays
𝟒 𝟎 𝟎
𝟐𝜶 −𝟏𝜷 𝟎𝜸
Nucleus of helium High speed electron,
Consists of 2 protons emitted from nucleus High energy
Nature& & 2 neutrons Emitted when a neutron electromagnetic
structure transform to proton radiation
charge +2 -1 No charge
Mass No. 4 0 No mass
Effect on Atomic No. (dec. 2) Atomic No. (inc. 1)
mass No. & Mass No. (dec. 4) Mass No. the same No change
atomic No. Neutron No.( dec. 2) Neutron No.( dec. 1)
Equation
Ionizing Very strong Weak Very Weak
power
Penetration Stopped by paper Stopped by 4 to5 mm of Never falls to Zero
power Or 5 to 6 cm of air aluminum sheet reduced to half by 25
mm of lead
Mohammed Allam 85
Unit five: Atomic physics PHYSICS IGCSE
Particles have the largest mass & charge among other radiations so
they have strong ionization power, & for that they lose their energy
quickly so they have the least penetration power.
𝟎
𝟎𝜸 rays have no charge or mass, so they have the least ionization
power, for that they have the greatest penetration power.
Radiation are affected by magnetic & electric fields, the path of beta
particles are much deflected as they have lighter mass.
Mohammed Allam 86
Unit five: Atomic physics PHYSICS IGCSE
Radiations Detection
Geiger-Muller counter, (GM) tube
It is used for detection of radiations.
When source is placed in front of the tube, the radiation ionize the gas
inside the tube, forming ion pairs which are attracted to the anode &
cathode forming a current pulses received by the counter.
Counter: counts number of pulses produced by radiation
Rate meter :records number of counts per second or per minute
It detects how strength of radiations, but it not detects kind of
radiations.
Background radiations
If GM counter placed with no source, counter will record low count rate
due to:
1. Radiations from radioactive materials in ground & rocks.
2. Cosmic radiations coming from outer space.
Background radiations should be record and subtracted from the count
rate obtained from radioactive source.
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Unit five: Atomic physics PHYSICS IGCSE
Detection experiments
1. First, record count rate of background
radiations.
2. Record count rate of radioactive source.
3. Record count rate of radioactive source
with putting suitable absorber (differ from
which radiation we been testing).
Mohammed Allam 88
Unit five: Atomic physics PHYSICS IGCSE
Mohammed Allam 89
Unit five: Atomic physics PHYSICS IGCSE
Mohammed Allam 90
Unit five: Atomic physics PHYSICS IGCSE
Half-life of radioactive source
Time taken for number of undecayed nuclei in a sample (or activity of a sample) to
decrease to half its value.
Radioactive decay: it is the spontaneous & random emission of ionizing radiations (alpha
or beta) from unstable nuclei. (random nature decay)
Some radioactive materials have very short half-lives (which can be small fraction of a
second).while others have very long half-lives (as thousands of years) which can ' t be
measured in a laboratory.
The Becquerel is the SI unit for radioactivity, One( Bq) is defined as the activity of a
quantity of radioactive material in which one nucleus decays per second.
1 Bq = 1 s 1-
Radioactive isotopes uses
To check thickness of materials
If a beta source is placed on one side of a moving sheet of material and
a GM counter on the other side, the count rate increases if the
thickness decreases ( and vice versa ). ( long half life source is used)
-
Tracers
A small amount of a weak radioactive isotope is injected into any body
and the radiation emitted from the source is detected by detector
outside the body. (gamma rays are used as they can penetrate the body
and has low ionization effect to not harm the body)
Leaks in pipe lines can also be detected by this way. ( beta particles
with half-life of a few hours are used as alpha will not reach and gamma
rays will penetrate the pipe anywhere.
Sterilization & radiotherapy
Gamma rays can used to kill bacteria in food, in surgical instruments and
syringes.
Gamma rays can destroy cancer cells.
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Unit five: Atomic physics PHYSICS IGCSE
Dangers and safety
Dangers for humans
1. Leukemia (cancer of blood)
2. Cataract ( causing blindness)
3. Cancer of sterility
4. Causes mutations or handicaps in newly born children.
For safety handling radioactive materials
1. Keep sources as far as possible by using very long forceps.
2. Sources are always stored in lead boxes to reduce amount exposure to
radiation, with symbol shown for radioactive material on them.
3. The hands should be washed after any handling.
4. Waste radioactive products are either buried deep into ground or in
an ocean bed.
Mohammed Allam 92
Unit five: Atomic physics PHYSICS IGCSE
Mohammed Allam 93
