Photo AI
An alpha particle collides with an atom to produce a positive ion - OCR Gateway - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 6
An alpha particle collides with an atom to produce a positive ion. What happens to the atom for it to become a positive ion? A It loses an electron from inside the ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:An alpha particle collides with an atom to produce a positive ion - OCR Gateway - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
What happens to the atom for it to become a positive ion?
Answer
To convert an atom into a positive ion, it needs to lose one or more electrons. This loss can occur when an alpha particle collides with the atom, providing enough energy to dislodge an electron from the outer shell.
Choice A states that the atom loses an electron from inside the nucleus; however, electrons are not found in the nucleus.
Choice C discusses the loss of a neutron, which does not affect the electric charge of the atom, so it is incorrect.
Choice D refers to losing a proton, which would turn the atom into a different element altogether.
Thus, the correct answer is B: It loses an electron from outside the nucleus.