An atom has a central nucleus containing neutrons and protons - Edexcel - GCSE Physics Combined Science - Question 3 - 2023 - Paper 1
Question 3
An atom has a central nucleus containing neutrons and protons.
Electrons orbit the nucleus.
(a) (i) Which row of the table gives the relative mass and charge of a p... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:An atom has a central nucleus containing neutrons and protons - Edexcel - GCSE Physics Combined Science - Question 3 - 2023 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which row of the table gives the relative mass and charge of a proton?
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Answer
The correct row is C, which states that a proton has a relative mass of 1 and a charge of +1.
Step 2
Calculate the ratio of the radius of the atom to the radius of the nucleus.
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Answer
To find the ratio, use the formula:
extratio=radius of nucleusradius of atom=1.0×10−151.0×10−10=105
Hence, the ratio is 100000:1.
Step 3
Explain why an atom has no charge overall.
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Answer
An atom has no overall charge because it contains equal numbers of electrons and protons. The negative charge of the electrons balances the positive charge of the protons, resulting in a neutral charge. Neutrons, which do not carry any charge, further contribute to the stability of the atom without affecting its overall charge.
