iGCSE Physics (Combined) CAIE
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46 topics in 8 modules
☑️ Nuclear Physics 12 topics
- Atomic Structure
- Radioactive Decay
- Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Radiations
- Half-life of Radioactive Substances
- Nuclear Fission and Fusion
- Detectors of Radioactivity
- Hazards and Uses of Radiations
- Nuclear Power and Energy
- Medical Applications of Radioactivity
- Environmental Impact of Nuclear Energy
- Background Radiation
- Safety Measures in Handling Radioactive Materials
☑️ Space Physics 10 topics
- The Solar System and Gravity
- The Life Cycle of Stars
- Satellites and their Orbits
- The Expansion of the Universe
- Cosmological Redshift and the Doppler Effect
- The Big Bang Theory and the Age of the Universe
- The Electromagnetic Spectrum in Astronomy
- Telescopes and Radio Telescopes
- Problems of Space Travel
- The Impact of Human Activities on Space Environment
☑️ Motion 6 topics
- Length and Time
- Motion
- Mass and Weight
- Density
- Effects of Forces
- Pressure
☑️ Work, Energy and Power 4 topics
- Work
- Energy
- Power
- Energy Resources
☑️ Thermal Physics 3 topics
- Simple Kinetic Molecular Model of Matter
- Matter and Thermal Properties
- Thermal Processes
☑️ Properties of Waves, including Light and Sound 4 topics
- General Wave Properties
- Light
- Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Sound
☑️ Electrical Quantities 3 topics
- Electric Charge
- Current, Potential Difference and Electromotive Force (e.m.f)
- Resistance
☑️ Electric Circuits 4 topics
- Circuit Diagrams
- Series and Parallel Circuits
- Electrical Energy
- Dangers of Electricity
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iGCSE Physics (Combined) CAIE Revision Content
Take a look at the written content available for this course. Practice-question availability may vary.
iGCSE Physics (Combined) CAIE - Nuclear Physics - Atomic Structure Content Preview
Nuclear Physics
Atomic Structure
Atomic Structure
Atoms
- Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all matter.
- An atom consists of a nucleus, surrounded by electrons.
- All atoms of the same element have the same number of protons in the nucleus.
Nucleus
- The nucleus is located at the centre of the atom.
- It is composed of protons and neutrons, collectively referred to as nucleons.
- Protons have a positive charge, while neutrons carry no charge.
- The nucleus is extremely dense and contains most of the atom's mass.
Electrons
- Electrons are tiny, negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus.
- Their paths are organised into energy levels or shells, each of which can hold a specific number of electrons.
- The number of electrons in an atom usually equals the number of protons, which makes the atom overall electrically neutral.
Atomic Number
- The atomic number, or proton number, is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
- This number determines which element the atom is.
Atomic Mass
- Atomic mass, or nucleon number, is the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.
- It's measured relative to the mass of the carbon-12 isotope, which has 6 protons and 6 neutrons.
Isotopes
- Isotopes are atoms of the same element (so they have the same number of protons) but with different numbers of neutrons.
- Although isotopes of an element behave the same chemically, they can have significantly different physical properties.
Radioactivity
- Radiation is released by atoms when the balance of energy within the atom is disturbed, often due to changes in the nucleus structure.
- This process is called radioactive decay.
- The three types of nuclear radiation are Alpha (α), Beta (β) and Gamma (γ).
Question: What defines an isotope and how do isotopes of the same element differ from each other?
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