Atoms and Radiation

Atoms and Radiation

1. Atomic Structure

   • Properties of sub-atomic particles
     • Proton
       • Relative Mass: 1
       • Relative charge: +1
     • Neutron
       • Relative Mass: 1
       • Relative charge: 0
     • Electron
       • Relative Mass: alomst 0
       • Relative charge: -1
   • Evidence for atomic structure
     • The 'plum pudding' model
       • In this model, the atom was imagined to be a sphere of positive charge with negatively charged electrons dotted around inside it
       • An experiment carried out in 1905 showed that the plum pudding model could not be correct.
     • Rutherford's scattering experiment
   • Isotopes

2. Nuclear Radiation

   • Background Radiation
     • All around us
     • Some from natural sources
       • Cosmic rays
         • Radiation that reaches earth from space
       • Rocks and soil
         • Some rocks are radioactive- giev off radon gas
       • Living things
         • Plants absorb radioactive materials from the soil and these pass up the food chain
     • Some from artical sources
       • Medical
         • x-rays
       • Nuclear power and weapons test
         • Radioactive waste
         • Radioactive fallout
   • Types of radiation
     • Alpha Radiation
       • Conists of alpha particles
         • Two protons and two neutrons (identical to helium)
         • No electrons
     • Beta Radiation
       • Consists of high energy electrons
         • Electrons which are made from a split neutrion
           • The electron then shoots out at a high speed
     • Gamma Radiation
       • Short wavelength
       • Electromagnetic radiation

3. Nuclear Fusion and Fisssion

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