Nuclear and Quantum Physics: notes and practice questions
E.1 is atomic structure, the Geiger-Marsden-Rutherford experiment and atomic spectra, with HL adding nuclear radius, the distance of closest approach and the Bohr model. E.2, HL only, is the photoelectric effect, de Broglie wavelength and Compton scattering. E.3 is radioactivity, binding energy, decay modes and half-life, with HL adding the exponential decay law. E.4 is fission and reactors. E.5 is fusion, stellar equilibrium, the HR diagram and stellar parallax, and it is an SL topic despite being the astrophysics that used to be an option. The hard part is that E.5 asks for a lot of qualitative astrophysics with almost no equations, and the HR diagram axes (temperature increasing to the left) are counter-intuitive. Examined through mass-defect energy calculations, decay-law problems at HL, and a long stellar question that usually shares a stem with B.1 and B.2.
Subtopics
- Practice questionsStructure of the Atom
This topic covers the historical development of the atomic model and how atomic spectra provide evidence for discrete energy levels. The Geiger-Marsden-Rutherford experiment provided evidence for the existence of the atomic nucleus.
- Practice questionsRadioactive Decay
This topic introduces the fundamental concepts of radioactive decay, nuclear stability, and energy transformations in nuclear reactions. Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.
- Practice questionsFission
This topic explores nuclear fission, focusing on how energy is released and harnessed. Understand energy release in spontaneous and neutron-induced fission.
- Practice questionsFusion and Stars
This topic covers the processes of fusion in stars, stellar stability, evolution, and methods for determining stellar properties. Stellar stability relies on an equilibrium between outward thermal or radiation pressure and inward gravitational forces.
- Practice questionsStructure of the AtomHL only
This topic explores the relationship between nuclear radius and nucleon number, discrete energy levels in the Bohr model, and quantized angular momentum. The nuclear radius is related to the nucleon number by , where is a constant.
- Practice questionsQuantum PhysicsHL only
This topic explores the wave-particle duality of light and matter, and the experimental evidence supporting these concepts. The photoelectric effect demonstrates light's particle nature, where the maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons is .
- Practice questionsRadioactive DecayHL only
This topic covers the higher level aspects of radioactive decay, including evidence for nuclear forces and the quantitative description of decay. Evidence for the strong nuclear force and the role of the neutron-to-proton ratio for nuclide stability.
