the radiation in the surroundings of a particular place

a small, positively charged particle which was used to discover the nucleus

the experiment used to discover the atomic nucleus from the deflection of alpha particles fired at it

the central part of an atom which contains most of the mass and all of the positive charge

Evidence of atomic structure

Combined science

Unstable nuclei

Nuclear decay (including beta–plus)

Ionising radiation

Radioactive half-life

Activity and half-life calculations

Uses of radiation

In A-level physics, some pupils will build on this knowledge to learn about probability and half-life equations, nuclear instability, Einstein’s equation E = mc2 that links mass and energy, and controlled nuclear fission.

In the Periodic table unit, in chemistry, pupils learnt about the nuclear model of the atom, the atomic number and mass number, and about isotopes of elements.

This unit covers atomic structure, isotopes, radioactive decay, and half-life. It explores alpha, beta, and gamma radiation, nuclear fission and fusion, and the uses of radiation in medicine, highlighting differences between contamination and irradiation.

Nuclear physics

the central part of an atom which contains protons and neutrons

the term for particles in a nucleus (protons and neutrons)

the number of protons within a particular nucleus

the total number of nucleons within a particular nucleus (protons + neutrons)

atoms of the same element with differing numbers of neutrons

the emission of a particle containing two protons and two neutrons from a nucleus

the emission of electromagnetic radiation from a nucleus that reduces its energy

the conversion of a neutron to a proton with the emission of a high speed electron from a nucleus

a particle with the same mass as an electron but with a positive charge

show the changes of particles during nuclear decay processes

a particle that can decay and emit nuclear radiation

emitted by a radioactive nucleus when it decays

the removal of one or more outer electrons from an atom

a particle of radiation made from two protons and two neutrons, with a relative charge of +2

a particle of radiation made of an electron emitted at high speed from an unstable nucleus

a random process by which unstable nuclei emit radiation

shows the pattern in radioactive decay for a large set of identical unstable nuclei

the time taken for half the nuclei of a radioactive isotope to decay

the number of decays per second; it is measured in becquerels (Bq)

contain unstable nuclei that will decay over time and emit ionising radiation

the time taken for the activity of a sample of a radioactive isotope to halve

the effect of exposing an object to radiation

the transfer of radioactive particles to an object or place

a measure of risk of harm from a person’s exposure to radiation

a method for killing cancer cells using radiation

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