CIE IGCSE Physics

Topic Questions

5.1 The Nuclear Model of the Atom

11 mark

Hydrogen is an element with one proton. It has three different isotopes.  


Which statement about the three Hydrogen isotopes is correct?

  • They must have different numbers of electrons orbiting their nucleus.

  • They must all have one proton in their nuclei.

  • They must all have one neutron in their nuclei.

  • They must all have the same number of nucleons in their nucleus.

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21 mark

The nuclide notation for a generic element is given below:

      bold X presubscript straight Z presuperscript straight A   

Which of the following is the correct definition of each of the terms?

 

X

A

Z

A

symbol

nucleon number

proton number

B

symbol

proton number

nucleon number

C

symbol

neutron number

proton number

D

nucleon number

proton number

neutron number

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31 mark

An atom consists of electrons orbiting a nucleus. The nucleus contains protons and neutrons.

For the atom to be neutral, which statement about the atom must be correct?

  • The number of electrons is equal to the number of protons.

  • The number of protons is equal to the number of neutrons.

  • The number of electrons, protons and neutrons are all different.

  • The number of electrons is equal to the number of neutrons.

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41 mark

The charge on an electron is -e.

Which answer below correctly describes the charge of a proton and the charge on a neutron?

 

Proton

Neutron

A

0

+e

B

+e

-e

C

+e

0

D

-e

+e

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51 mark

Uranium is represented as:

space bold U presubscript 92 presuperscript 235

Which of the answers below could be an isotope of Uranium?

  • straight U presubscript 91 presuperscript 235

  • begin mathsize 24px style straight U presubscript 92 presuperscript 238 end style

  • begin mathsize 24px style straight U presubscript 235 presuperscript 92 end style

  • begin mathsize 24px style straight U presubscript 90 presuperscript 235 end style

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11 mark

Nuclear reactions can release huge amounts of energy.

Which nuclear reaction takes place in the sun and which nuclear reaction takes place in a nuclear power station?

 

The Sun

A nuclear power station

A

fusion

fusion

B

fusion

fission

C

fission

fission

D

fission

fusion

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21 mark

In 1911 Rutherford performed an experiment that provided evidence for the nuclear atom.

Which of the diagrams below best represents this experiment?

AqGz6M08_q2-hard-mcq-5-1-the-nuclear-modelof-atom-cie-igcse-physics

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31 mark

Fusion is a type of nuclear reaction.

Which term below is a correct statement about nuclear fusion?

  • It occurs in nuclear power stations.

  • It involves a larger nucleus decaying into two (or more) smaller nuclides.

  • Uranium is a type of fuel for nuclear fusion.

  • Light nuclei (such as hydrogen and helium) fuse together, releasing energy in the process.

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41 mark

A neutron and a proton are near to a positive nucleus.

q4-hard-mcq-5-1-the-nuclear-modelof-atom-cie-igcse-physics

If anything, what would happen to the proton and the neutron due to the charge on the nucleus?

  • The neutron is repelled; the proton is attracted.

  • The proton is not affected; the neutron is attracted.

  • The proton is repelled; the neutron is attracted.

  • The proton is repelled; the neutron is not affected.

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51 mark

In Rutherford's experiment, α-particles were fired at a thin metal foil. This is shown in the image below.

q5-hard-mcq-5-1-the-nuclear-modelof-atom-cie-igcse-physics

Why are α-particles used rather than neutrons?

  • They are positively charged, which causes them to repel when they pass close to a nucleus.

  • They are very small in diameter, and so are less likely to interact with a nucleus.

  • They travel more slowly.

  • They are heavier.

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11 mark

An atom of Helium has the following nuclide symbol:

bold He presubscript 2 presuperscript 4

Which of the following diagrams best represents a neutral atom of Helium?

q1-medium-mcq-5-1-the-nuclear-modelof-atom-cie-igcse-physics

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21 mark

How many neutrons are in a nucleus of Aluminium? The chemical symbol is given below:

CijCCrn0_q2-medium-mcq-5-1-the-nuclear-modelof-atom-cie-igcse-physics

  • 13

  • 27

  • 14

  • 40

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31 mark

Below are the symbols for four different nuclides.

q3-medium-mcq-5-1-the-nuclear-modelof-atom-cie-igcse-physics

Which two nuclides are isotopes of the same element?

  • Nuclide 1 and nuclide 4.

  • Nuclide 1, nuclide 3 and nuclide 4

  • Nuclide 2 and nuclide 3

  • Nuclide 2 and nuclide 4

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41 mark

Which of the following statements would not be correct for the nucleus of any atom?

  • The nucleus contains protons and neutrons.

  • The nucleus has a total charge of zero.

  • The nucleus is very small compared to the size of the atom.

  • The atom contains the same number of protons and electrons.

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51 mark

A nitrogen atom loses an electron. 

What is it called now?

  • An atom

  • An isotope

  • A negative ion

  • A positive ion

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