AQA · Physics · 8463
GCSE Physics: The structure of an atom
Atomic structure · AQA GCSE Physics (8463), specification point 4.4.1.1. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "The structure of an atom", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.
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What is the approximate radius of an atom?
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About 1 × 10⁻¹⁰ metres.
What is the charge of the nucleus of an atom?
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Positive — it contains protons (positive) and neutrons (neutral).
Which two particles make up the nucleus of an atom?
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Protons and neutrons.
The nucleus of an atom is surrounded by negatively charged ?.
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electrons
How does the radius of a nucleus compare to the radius of an atom?
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It is less than 1/10 000 of the radius of the atom.
Where is most of the mass of an atom concentrated?
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In the nucleus.
What does it mean that electrons are arranged at different distances from the nucleus?
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They occupy different energy levels — further from the nucleus means a higher energy level.
What happens to an electron when an atom absorbs electromagnetic radiation?
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It moves further from the nucleus, to a higher energy level.
What happens to an electron when an atom emits electromagnetic radiation?
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It moves closer to the nucleus, to a lower energy level.
An electron moving to a higher energy level requires the ? of electromagnetic radiation.
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absorption
Write the radius of an atom, 0.0000000001 m, in standard form.
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1 × 10⁻¹⁰ m.
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