The nuclear atom

About this lab: The nuclear atom

Interactive simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 topic 5.1 The nuclear atom: build atoms from hydrogen to calcium with electrons filling shells, read nuclide notation with the nucleon and proton numbers and count the neutrons, compare the isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, chlorine and uranium, fire alpha particles at gold foil under the nuclear and plum-pudding models and tally how many pass through or bounce back, and step a uranium-235 fission chain reaction generation by generation or watch deuterium and tritium fuse into helium.

IGCSE Physics 0625, topic 5.1. Atomic structure, nuclide notation, isotopes, the alpha-particle scattering experiment, and fission and fusion.

The nuclear atom is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 (topic 5 Nuclear physics, section 5.1 The nuclear model of the atom). The course is assessed in Papers 1 and 2 (multiple choice), 3 and 4 (theory), 5 (practical test) and 6 (alternative to practical). There are 5 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.

Syllabus coverage

• 5.1.1 Describe the structure of an atom in terms of a positively charged nucleus and negatively charged electrons in orbit around the nucleus
• 5.1.1 Know how atoms may form positive ions by losing electrons or form negative ions by gaining electrons
• 5.1.1 Describe how the scattering of alpha (α) particles by a sheet of thin metal supports the nuclear model of the atom, by providing evidence for: (a) a very small nucleus surrounded by mostly empty space (b) a nucleus containing most of the mass of the atom (c) a nucleus that is positively charged (Supplement)
• 5.1.2 Describe the composition of the nucleus in terms of protons and neutrons
• 5.1.2 State the relative charges of protons, neutrons and electrons as +1, 0 and –1 respectively
• 5.1.2 Define the terms proton number (atomic number) Z and nucleon number (mass number) A and be able to calculate the number of neutrons in a nucleus
• 5.1.2 Use the nuclide notation A ZX
• 5.1.2 Explain what is meant by an isotope and state that an element may have more than one isotope
• Lessons on this topic: Atomic structure: nucleus and orbiting electrons, Alpha-scattering experiment and the nuclear model, Protons, neutrons, electrons, and nuclide notation, Isotopes, Nuclear fission and fusion.

Full syllabus map: IGCSE Physics 0625 topic 5.

How to use this simulation

1. 1. Atomic structure.
2. 2. Nuclide notation.
3. 3. Isotopes.
4. 4. Alpha scattering.
5. 5. Fission and fusion.
6. The buttons at the end of the tab strip give the scene the whole window (Full screen, Hide controls) and, on a dark stage, a projector-friendly palette (Light scene). Many scenes also have drag handles: drag them to change the set-up directly.

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