Unit 5: Atomic Structure

This Nuffield Advanced Physics Unit provides some of the key ideas for one of the major theme of the course which is the attempt to explain large-scale things in terms of small-scale things. The Unit draws together ideas about electric charge and fields from Unit 3 into new patterns to explain new things. The central idea for the Unit is Rutherford’s model of the atom and the evidence for this model. The provides opportunities to explain the roles of models and theories in physics.

Contents of the Students’ book
*To the student
*Summary of Unit 5
*Questions
*Answers
*Exponential changes
*Radioactivity and the nuclear atom
*Radioisotopes
*Reading references
*Further reading
*Formulae, symbols, and data

Experiments suggested for the Unit
5.1 The magnetic deflection of beta particles
5.2 The number of ions produced by an alpha particle
5.3 The cloud chamber tracks of alpha, beta, and gamma rays
5.4 The penetrating power of alpha, beta, and gamma rays
5.5 Photographic detection of radiation
5.6 Large angle scattering of alpha particles
5.7 Collisions between pucks in two dimensions
5.8 Knock-on of protons by alpha particles
5.9 Decay and recovery of protactinium
5.10 The decay of radon
5.11 Radioactive decay analogue
5.12 Random variation of count rate
5.13 Magnetic deflection of alpha particles
5.14a The gravitational analogue of inverse square law repulsion
5.14b The number of particles scattered at various angles
5.15 Decay of radon in a cloud chamber
5.16 Simple photo-electric cell
5.17 Colour of light and energy of photo-electrons
5.18 Spectrum of mercury vapour