Nuclear Physics: Atomic Structure

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Atomic Structure

Negatively charged electrons orbiting a positively charged nucleus

Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment

This experiment changed the idea that the atom was made up of a random mixture of electrons and positively charged particles

The conclusion was that there was a dense positive core at the centre of the atom (the nucleus) with the electrons orbiting the nucleus

Bohr Model

The nucleus was composed of protons and neutrons packed tightly together

Electrons spin around it in fixed orbits

The rings increase in radius which corresponds with an increase in energy level

When the atoms gain energy, electrons jump from a lower energy state to the next energy level (excited state). When the electrons return to their original level they emit a photon

This causes emission line spectra, and each element has a unique line spectrum due to its different electron configuration

Line spectra can be demonstrated using a spectrometer

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