The structure of the atom (AQA GCSE Physics Combined Science): Flashcards
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Practise the cards
15 cards from this deck
What are the three main particles in an atom?
What are the three main particles in an atom?
Protons, neutrons, and electrons
What does the nucleus contain?
What does the nucleus contain?
Protons and neutrons packed tightly together
Where are electrons located in an atom?
Where are electrons located in an atom?
In shells/energy levels around the nucleus
Charge of a proton
Charge of a proton
+1 (positive)
Charge of a neutron
Charge of a neutron
0 (no charge, electrically neutral)
Charge of an electron
Charge of an electron
-1 (negative)
Mass of a proton and neutron in amu
Mass of a proton and neutron in amu
1 atomic mass unit each
What determines which element an atom is?
What determines which element an atom is?
The number of protons
Why do atoms have no overall charge?
Why do atoms have no overall charge?
Equal numbers of protons and electrons balance out
Diameter of a typical atom
Diameter of a typical atom
m
Diameter of a nucleus
Diameter of a nucleus
m
How much smaller is the nucleus than the atom?
How much smaller is the nucleus than the atom?
About 100,000 times smaller
Percentage of atom's mass in the nucleus
Percentage of atom's mass in the nucleus
Over 99%
What happens when an electron absorbs radiation?
What happens when an electron absorbs radiation?
Gains energy and jumps to higher energy level
What happens when an electron emits radiation?
What happens when an electron emits radiation?
Loses energy and drops to lower energy level