Process
AQA A-Level Physics 7408
Measurements and Their Errors
Particles and Radiation
Topic overviewConstituents of the atomStable and unstable nucleiParticles, antiparticles and photonsParticle interactionsClassification of particlesQuarks and antiquarksApplications of conservation lawsThe photoelectric effectCollisions of electrons with atomsEnergy levels and photon emissionWave-particle duality
Waves
Mechanics and Materials
Electricity
Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics
Fields and Their Consequences
Topic overviewFieldsNewton's lawGravitational field strengthGravitational potentialOrbits of planets and satellitesCoulomb's lawElectric field strengthElectric potentialCapacitanceParallel plate capacitorEnergy stored by a capacitorCapacitor charge and dischargeMagnetic flux densityMoving charges in a magnetic fieldMagnetic flux and flux linkageElectromagnetic inductionAlternating currentsTransformers
Nuclear Physics
AstrophysicsOptional topic
Topic overviewAstronomical telescope consisting of two converging lensesReflecting telescopesSingle dish radio telescopes, I-R, U-V and X-ray telescopesAdvantages of large diameter telescopesClassification by luminosityAbsolute magnitude, MClassification by temperature, black-body radiationPrinciples of the use of stellar spectral classesThe Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagramSupernovae, neutron stars and black holesDoppler effectHubble's lawQuasarsDetection of exoplanets
Medical PhysicsOptional topic
Topic overviewPhysics of visionDefects of vision and their correction using lensesEar as a sound detection systemSensitivity and frequency responseDefects of hearingSimple ECG machines and the normal ECG waveformUltrasound imagingFibre optics and endoscopyMagnetic resonance (MR) scannerThe physics of diagnostic X-raysImage detection and enhancementAbsorption of X-raysCT scannerImaging techniquesHalf-lifeGamma cameraUse of high-energy X-raysUse of radioactive implantsImaging comparisons
Engineering PhysicsOptional topic
Turning Points in PhysicsOptional topic
Topic overviewCathode raysThermionic emission of electronsSpecific charge of the electronPrinciple of Millikan's determination of the electronic charge, eNewton's corpuscular theory of lightSignificance of Young's double slits experimentElectromagnetic wavesThe discovery of photoelectricityWave–particle dualityElectron microscopesThe Michelson-Morley experimentEinstein's theory of special relativityTime dilationLength contractionRelativistic mass and energy
ElectronicsOptional topic
Topic overviewMOSFET (metal-oxide semiconducting field-effect transistor)Zener diodePhotodiodeHall effect sensorDifference between analogue and digital signalsLC resonance filtersThe ideal operational amplifierInverting amplifier configurationNon-inverting amplifier configurationSumming amplifier configurationReal operational amplifiersCombinational logicSequential logicAstablesPrinciples of communication systemsTransmission mediaTime-division multiplexingAmplitude (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) techniques
Nuclear Physics
- 8 subtopics
- 47 things to know
- Papers 2 and 3
What Nuclear Physics covers
Nuclear physics is examined on Papers 2 and 3. It starts with the scattering experiment that revealed the nucleus, works through the properties of radiation and the decay law, then treats nuclear radius, binding energy and fission.
Where it is assessed
Papers 2 and 3
Core content, then practical skills and data analysis.
Check the AQA specification ↗The 8 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Rutherford scatteringThe alpha scattering experiment, the observations that surprised Rutherford, and the nuclear model.Open →
- α, β and γ radiationThe nature, penetrating power and uses of each, the inverse-square law for gamma, and background correction.Open →
- Radioactive decayThe random nature of decay, the decay constant, the exponential decay law, activity and half-life.Open →
- Nuclear instabilityThe N against Z plot, the stability line, and the decay each region undergoes.Open →
- Nuclear radiusDistance of closest approach, electron diffraction, R = R₀A^(1/3), and the constancy of nuclear density.Open →
- Mass and energyE = mc², mass defect and binding energy, the atomic mass unit, and calculating energy released.Open →
- Induced fissionChain reactions, thermal neutrons, and the roles of the moderator and the control rods.Open →
- Safety aspectsRemote handling, shielding, emergency shut-down, and the storage of radioactive waste.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Numbers
What observations surprised Rutherford, and what did they reveal about the nucleus?
Process
What are the features of the nuclear model, and which model did it replace?
Key term
How was the nuclear model refined after Rutherford's initial proposal regarding positive charge?
Numbers
What does the inverse-square law state, and why is gamma used to gauge steel thickness?
Evaluation
How should a gamma source be positioned and counted when testing the inverse-square law?
Numbers
What should be plotted to verify the inverse-square law, and what result confirms it?
Numbers
How is background radiation accounted for in a count rate measurement?
Evaluation
What does ALARA stand for and guide, and what risks come with medical use of radiation?
Process
Name three artificial sources of background radiation
Key term
Which source typically contributes most to background radiation exposure?
Evaluation
What must be balanced when using radiation for medical purposes?
Process
What does radioactive decay depend on, and why can no single decay be predicted?
Numbers
What is the decay constant, what units does it take, and how does it govern the decay rate?
Numbers
Why is there a minus sign in ΔN/Δt = −λN, and what exponential equation follows?
Numbers
What does N₀ represent, why is the decay exponential, and what is activity?
Numbers
What unit is activity measured in, and how does it relate to the number of undecayed nuclei?
Numbers
How does activity vary with time, and what does A₀ represent?
Numbers
What is half-life, and does it change as a sample decays?
Numbers
How does half-life relate to the decay constant, and why can it be measured from any point?
Numbers
What shape is a plot of ln(N) against time, and what does its gradient give?
Numbers
What does a plot of neutron number against proton number show about stability?
Numbers
What is conserved in a decay equation, and what is a nuclear excited state?
Numbers
What transformation happens inside the nucleus during beta-minus decay?
Numbers
What happens to the proton number (Z) during electron capture?
Key term
What is technetium-99m used for in medicine?
Numbers
What equation gives the distance of closest approach, why does it give only an upper limit for nuclear radius, and what does Q represent?
Numbers
In Eₖ = kQq/r, what does q represent, how is the equation rearranged for distance, and what happens at closest approach?
Numbers
What is the value of R₀, and what order of magnitude are nuclear radii?
Numbers
What do the symbols in R = R₀A^(1/3) mean, and how was the equation obtained?
Numbers
What does R = R₀A^(1/3) imply about volume, and how is nuclear density calculated?
Numbers
What is the typical value of nuclear density, and does it vary between nuclei?
Numbers
What is Einstein's mass-energy relation, and does it apply beyond nuclear reactions?
Numbers
How is the atomic mass unit defined, and what is its energy equivalent?
Numbers
How is a mass defect converted to energy, and what are fission and fusion?
Numbers
How is the energy released in a nuclear reaction calculated from the mass difference?
Numbers
What steps convert reactant and product masses into an energy release?
Key term
What is a chain reaction, what makes it self-sustaining, and what are thermal neutrons?
Process
What does a moderator do, and why do nuclei of similar mass to neutrons work best?
Process
What do control rods do, and which materials serve as moderators?
Key term
Give three examples of coolant materials used in nuclear reactors
Numbers
Why are fuel rods handled remotely, and how are operators protected?
Key term
What do emergency shut-down systems do, and what roles does water play?
Numbers
Where does radioactive waste come from, and what triggers an emergency shut-down?
Numbers
What is vitrification, and what timescale governs long-term waste storage?
Key term
What is the intended permanent disposal solution for high-level radioactive waste?
Evaluation
What two factors must be weighed when assessing nuclear accident risk?
Take Nuclear Physics further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Activity vs Count rate
Activity: decays occurring per unit time. Count rate: detected events occurring per unit time.
Half-life vs Decay constant
Half-life: time for activity or undecayed nuclei to halve. Decay constant: probability of decay per nucleus per unit time.
Fission vs Fusion
Fission: heavy nucleus splitting into smaller nuclei. Fusion: light nuclei combining into a heavier nucleus.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
In the Rutherford scattering experiment, what type of radiation was directed at the target material?
Model answer
Alpha particles
- 2
What material was used as the target in Rutherford's scattering experiment?
Model answer
Thin gold foil
- 3
How were scattered alpha particles detected in Rutherford's experiment?
Model answer
Using a zinc sulfide screen, which produced visible flashes of light when struck by alpha particles
- 4
How was the angular distribution of scattered particles measured in Rutherford's experiment?
Model answer
By using a movable detector that could be positioned at different angles around the gold foil to measure scattering angles
- 5
What was observed for the majority of alpha particles fired at the gold foil in Rutherford's experiment?
Model answer
Most alpha particles passed straight through with little or no deflection
- 6
What does the observation that most alpha particles pass through gold foil undeflected tell us about atomic structure?
Model answer
Atoms are mostly empty space
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Nuclear Physics revision questions
- What does Nuclear Physics cover in AQA A-Level Physics?
- 8 subtopics: rutherford scattering, α, β and γ radiation, radioactive decay, nuclear instability, nuclear radius, mass and energy, induced fission and safety aspects. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Nuclear Physics organised?
- By the AQA 7408 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Nuclear Physics, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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