Shanghai Singapore International School
Subject area: Physics
Topic: General physic
Unit title: Atomic Physics
Time allocation: 7 Weeks
Year Group: Grade 10
Trimester: Trimester 2
Aims:
1. To identify the definitions of the following terms: a. Nucleon b. Nuclide c. Isotope
2. To explain scientists' ideas about the structure of the atom over the last century.
3. To communicate the progression of ideas about the structure of the atom through words and diagrams.
4. To distinguish between the different types of radioactive decays and compute the daughter nuclei for these decays.
5. To use the concept of half life to determine the age of a radioactive sample
6. To distinguish safety precaution when handling radioactive materials
Pre-requisite knowledge:
1. Students are required to handle basic algebraic.
2. Students are aware of that an atom is composed of protons, nuetrons and electrons.
3. Students are aware of the dangers of radiation from radioactive materials
Learning objectives
Teaching Notes/
Essential Questions
Assessment /
Assignment
Resources
5. Atomic physics
5.1 Radioactivity
(a) Detection of radioactivity
Core
• Show awareness of the existence of background radiation
• Describe the detection of α-particles, β-particles and γ-rays (β+ are not included: βparticles will be taken to refer to β–)
(b) Characteristics of the three kinds of emission
Core
• State that radioactive emissions occur randomly over space and time
• State, for radioactive emissions:
– their nature
– their relative ionising effects
– their relative penetrating abilities
Supplement
• Describe their deflection in electric fields and magnetic fields
• Interpret their relative ionising effects
(c) Radioactive decay
Core
• State the meaning of radioactive decay, using equations (involving words or symbols)
to represent changes in the composition of the nucleus when particles are emitted
(d) Half-life
Core
• Use the term half-life in simple calculations, which might involve information in tables
or decay curves
(e) Safety precautions
Core
• Describe how radioactive materials are handled, used and stored in a safe way
Various video
resources and
worksheet
What does it mean
by activity?
What will happen if
there are too many
positively charged
particles tangled up
together?
Assignment:
Worksheets on
radioactivity.
Demo lab
using Phet
simulation;
Alpha decay
Beta decay
Nuclear fission
What happen if
charged particles
passing through a
magnetic field?
Assignment:
Dice experiment
on half life
What do we do with
the nuclear waste?
5.2 Nuclear atom
(a) Atomic model
Core
• Describe the structure of an atom in terms of a nucleus and electrons Identify and
explain some
Supplement
• Describe how the scattering of α-particles by thin metal foils provides evidence for the
nuclear atom
(b) Nucleus
Core
• Describe the composition of the nucleus in terms of protons and neutrons
• Use the term proton number Z
• Use the term nucleon number A
• Use the term nuclide and use the nuclide notation ZA X
(c) Isotopes
Supplement
• Use the term isotope
• Give and explain examples of practical applications of isotopes
What's the meaning
of an Atom?
What is an atom
made of?
How do we know
that an atom is
composed of a
neucleus and
electrons?
Worksheets on
questions about
atomic structure.
Assignment:
Mini Virtual lab
using phet:
Rutherford
scattering
simulation
Have you heard of
plum pudding
model?
What is the size of
electrons comparing
to a proton?
Is there an element
that has the same
atomic number but
different mass
numbers?
Test: Atomic
Physics