11. Particle physics
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11.1 Atoms, nuclei and radiation
11.1.1The results of the α-particle scattering experiment the existence and small
• infer from the results of the α-particle scattering experiment the existence and small size of the nucleus
11.1.2A simple model for the nuclear atom to include protons, neutrons and orbital
• describe a simple model for the nuclear atom to include protons, neutrons and orbital electrons
11.1.3Nucleon number and proton number
• distinguish between nucleon number and proton number
11.1.4Isotopes are forms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons in
• understand that isotopes are forms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei
11.1.5The notation A Z X for the representation of nuclides
• understand and use the notation A Z X for the representation of nuclides
11.1.6Nucleon number and charge are conserved in nuclear processes
• understand that nucleon number and charge are conserved in nuclear processes
11.1.7The composition, mass and charge of α-, β- and γ-radiations (both β–
• describe the composition, mass and charge of α-, β- and γ-radiations (both β– (electrons) and β+ (positrons) are included)
11.1.8An antiparticle has the same mass but opposite charge to the corresponding
• understand that an antiparticle has the same mass but opposite charge to the corresponding particle, and that a positron is the antiparticle of an electron
11.1.9That (electron) antineutrinos are produced during β– decay and (electron)
• state that (electron) antineutrinos are produced during β– decay and (electron) neutrinos are produced during β+ decay
11.1.10Α-particles have discrete energies but that β-particles have a continuous
• understand that α-particles have discrete energies but that β-particles have a continuous range of energies because (anti)neutrinos are emitted in β-decay
11.1.11Α- and β-decay by a radioactive decay equation of the form UT h92 238 90 234
• represent α- and β-decay by a radioactive decay equation of the form UT h92 238 90 234 2 4" + α
11.1.12The unified atomic mass unit (u) as a unit of mass
• use the unified atomic mass unit (u) as a unit of mass
11.2 Fundamental particles
• understand that a quark is a fundamental particle and that there are six flavours (types) of quark: up, down, strange, charm, top and bottom
• recall and use the charge of each flavour of quark and understand that its respective antiquark has the opposite charge (no knowledge of any other properties of quarks is required)
• recall that protons and neutrons are not fundamental particles and describe protons and neutrons in terms of their quark composition
• understand that a hadron may be either a baryon (consisting of three quarks) or a meson (consisting of one quark and one antiquark)
• describe the changes to quark composition that take place during β– and β+ decay
• recall that electrons and neutrinos are fundamental particles called leptons