PHYSICS IGCSE 2012 EXAM REVISION

NOTES
By Samuel Lees and Adrian Guillot
1. General physics
1.1length and time
1.2Speed, velocity and acceleration
1.3Mass and weight
1.4Density
1.5Forces
a. Effects of forces
b. Turning effect
c. Conditions for equilibrium
d. Centre of mass
e. Scalars and vectors
1.6Energy work power
a. Energy
b. Energy resources
c. Work
d. Power
1.7Pressure
2. Thermal physics
2.1a. States of matter
b. Molecular model
c. Evaporation
d. Pressure changes
2.2Thermal properties
a. Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases
b. Measurement of temperature
c. Thermal capactiy
d. Melting and boiling

2.3Transfer of thermal energy

a. Conduction
b. Convection
c. Radiation
d. Consequences of energy transfer
3. Properties of waves, including light and sound
3.1General wave properties
3.2Light
a. Reflection of light
b. Refraction of light
c. Thin converging lens
d. Dispersion of light
e. Electromagnetic spectrum
3.3 Sound
4. Electricity and magnetism
 4.1Simple phenomena of magnetism
4.2Electrical quantities
a. Electric charge
b. Current
c. Electro-motive force
d. Potential difference
e. Resistance
f. Electrical energy
4.3Electric circuits
a. Circuit diagrams
b. Series and parallel circuits
c. Action and use of circuit components
d. Digital electronics
4.4Dangers of electricity
4.5Electromagnetic effects
a. Electromagnetic induction
b. a.c. generator
c. Transformer
d. The magnetic effect of a current
e. Force on a current carrying conductor
f. d.c. motor
4.6Cathode-ray oscilloscopes
a. Cathode rays
b. Simple treatment of cathode-ray oscilloscope
5. Atomic physics
5.1Radioactivity
a. Detection of radioactivity
b. Characteristics of the three kinds of emission
c. Radioactive decay
d. Half-life
e. Safety precautions
5.2The nuclear atom
a. Atomic model
b. Nucleus
c. Isotopes
Units for IGSCE:

quantity unit symbol other units

SI mass kilogram Kg g
UNITS length metre m cm
time second s h, min
area square metre m2 cm2
volume cubic metre m3 cm3
force newton N -
weight newton N -
pressure pascal Pa N/m2
energy joule J kWh
work joule J -
power watt W -
frequency hertz Hz -
PD, EMF volt V -
current ampere A -
resistance ohm Ω -
charge coulomb C -
capacitance farad F -
temperature Kelvin K -
degree Celsius °C
specific heat capacity joules per kilogram ° Celsius J/(kg°C) J/(g°C)
specific latent heat joules per kilogram J/kg J/g
latent heat joule J -
speed metres per second m/s cm/s or km/h
acceleration metres per second per second m/s2

1.1
Length and time
Length:
• A rule (ruler) is used to measure length for distances between 1mm and 1meter; the SI unit for length is the meter
(m)
• To find out the volume of a regular object, you can use a mathematical formula, you just need to
make a couple of length measurements.
• To measure the volume of an irregular object you have to put the object into measuring cylinder
with water. When you add the object it displaces the water, making the water level rise. Measure
this rise. This is the volume of your object.
• Micrometers:

Rotate the thimble until the wire is firmly held between the anvil and the spindle.
To take a reading, first look at the main scale. This has a linear scale reading on it. The long lines are
every millimetre the shorter ones denote half a millimetre in between. Then look at the rotating scale. Add
the 2 numbers, on the scale on the right it would be: 2.5mm + 0.46mm = 2.96mm
Time:
• An interval of time is measured using clocks, the SI unit for time is the second(s)
• To find the amount of time it takes a pendulum to make a spin, time ~25 circles and then divide by
the same number as the number of circles.
1.2 Speed, velocity and acceleration
• Speed is the distance an object moves in a time frame. It is measured in metres/second (m/s) or
kilometres/hour (km/h).
speed = distance moved / time taken
Distance/time graphs and speed/time graphs:

• Calculating distance travelled:

-with constant speed: speed × time
-with constant acceleration: (final speed + initial speed)/2 × period of acceleration
• Acceleration is the change in velocity per unit of time, measured in metres per second per second, or m/s2 or ms-2.
average acceleration = change in velocity /
time taken a = v - u / s
An increase in speed is a positive acceleration, a decrease in speed is a negative acceleration /
deceleration / retardation.
• If acceleration is not constant, the speed/time graph will be curved.
• The downwards acceleration of an object is caused by gravity. This happens most when an object is in
free fall (falling with nothing holding it up). Objects are slowed down by air resistance. Once air resistance
is equal to the force of gravity, the object has reached terminal velocity. This means that it will stay at a
constant velocity. (This varies for every object). The value of g (gravity) on Earth is 9.81m/s2. However
10m/s2 can be used for most calculations. Gravity can be measured by using:
Gravity = 2 x height dropped /
(time)2 g = 2h / t2
This only works when there is no air resistance, so a vacuum chamber is required.
1.3 Mass and weight
• Mass: the property of an object that is a measure of its inertia (a resistance to accelerate), the
amount of matter it contains, and its influence in a gravitational field.
• Weight is the force of gravity acting on an object, measured in Newtons, and given by the formula:
Weight = mass × acceleration due to gravity
• Weights (and hence masses) may be compared using a balance
1.4 Density
• To determine the density of a liquid place a measuring cylinder on a balance, then fill the measuring
cylinder with some liquid. The change in mass is the mass of the liquid and the volume is shown on the
scale, then use the formula:
Density = mass / volume
• To determine the density of an object you use the methods mentioned in section 1.1 to find out
volume and then weigh the object and then use the formula.
1.5 Forces
1.5 (a) Effects of forces
•A force may produce a change in size and shape of a body, give an acceleration or deceleration or
a change in direction depending on the direction of the force.
•Extension/load graph:
Experiment:

•Finding the resultant force of two or more forces acting along the same line:

•Hooke’s Law: springs extend in proportion to load, as long as they are under their proportional limit.
Load (N) = spring constant (N/mm) x
extension (mm) F = k
x
•Limit of proportionality: point at which load and extension are no longer proportional
Elastic limit: point at which the spring will not return to its original shape after being stretched
Force = mass × acceleration
Forces are measured in Newtons. 1 Newton is the amount of force needed to give 1kg an acceleration of
1m/s2 (if you think about it using the equation it’s really obvious: if force = mass × acceleration then 1
Newton = 1kg × 1m/s2) Circular motions
An object at steady speed in a circular orbit is always accelerating as its direction is changing, but it gets no
closer to the centre
•Centripetal force is the force acting towards the centre of a circle. It is a force that is needed (not
caused by) a circular motion, for example when you swing a ball on a string round in a circle, the tension
of the string is the centripetal force. If the string is cut then the ball will travel in a straight line at a
tangent to the circle at the point where the string was cut (Newton’s first law)
•Centrifugal force also known as the nonexistent force is the force acting away from the centre of
a circle. This is what makes a slingshot go outwards as you spin it. The centrifugal force is the reaction
to the centripetal force (Newton’s third law). It has the same magnitude but opposite direction to the
centripetal force (“equal but opposite”).
centripetal force = mass × velocity2 / radius
Newton’s laws are not in the syllabus but if it helps here they are:
Newton’s 1st law of motion: If no external for is acting on it, an object will, if stationary, remain stationary, and
if moving, keep moving at a steady speed in the same straight line
Newton’s 2nd law of motion: F = m × a -acceleration is proportional to the force, and inversely
proportional to mass Newtons 3rd law of motion: if object A exerts a force on object B, then object B will exert
an equal but opposite force on object A
or, more simply:
To every action there is an equal but opposite reaction
1.5 (b) Turning effect
Moment of a force about a pivot (Nm) = force (N) x distance
from pivot (m) Moments of a force are measured in Newton meters, can be either
clockwise or anticlockwise.
• Turning a bolt is far easier with a wrench because the distance from the pivot is massively increased,
and so is the turning effect (this also applies to pushing a door open from the handle compared to near
the hinge).
• If you have a beam on a pivot then:
-if the clockwise moments are greater, then the beam will tilt in the clockwise direction and vice versa.
-if clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments then the beam is in
equilibrium. The only thing which isn’t really easy about moments:

1.5 (c) Conditions for equilibrium

•If a beam is in equilibrium, there is no resultant moments.
1.5 (d) Centre of mass
Centre of mass is an imaginary point in a body (object) where the total
mass of the body can be thought to be concentrated to make calculations
easier
To find the centre of gravity on a flat object, use the following steps:
1. Get a flat object.
2. Get a stand and a plumb line (a string with a weight on it).
3. Punch 3 holes in your object.
4. Hang your object from the hole, and attach the plumb line to
the same hole. Draw a vertical line where the plumb line is.
5. Repeat step 4 for all the other holes. Where the lines meet is the
centre of gravity. (FIY the string should be able to swing freely, so should
not touch the paper)

For stability the centre of mass must be over the centre of pressure.
1.5 (e) Scalars and vectors
•A scalar is a quantity that only has a magnitude (so it can only be positive) for example speed. A
vector quantity has a direction as well as a magnitude, for example velocity, which can be negative.
•More ways to add vectors (Pythagoras’s theorem and the parallelogram rule):
1.6 Energy, work and power
1.6 (a) Energy
•An object may have energy because of its movement (kinetic energy) or because of its position, for
example a book on a shelf has gravitational potential energy - it can fall off the shelf. Energy can be
transferred from one type to another for example if the book falls off the shelf its gpe is turned into ke.
Energy is stored for example the book stores gpe, or a starch molecule stores chemical energy in its
bonds. An object can transfer its energy to another object too, for example conducting heat.
Energy type What is it? example
Kinetic energy energy due to motion any moving object
Gravitational energy from the potential to fall a book on a shelf
potential energy
Chemical energy stored in chemical bonds glucose molecules have energy, but starch has
potential energy more bonds so stores more energy
Strain or elastic something compressed or stretched has compressed spring and stretched elastic band
potential energy the potential to do work
Nuclear energy released when particles in atoms energy is released when atoms are made to
potential are rearranged or an atom splits decay
energy in nuclear power stations
Internal energy kinetic + potential energy -
Electrical the energy carried by electrons energy transferred from a battery to a bulb
potential energy
Radiate light energy carried in light waves light from the sun
d sound energy carried in sound waves sound from a loudspeaker
energy

•The conservation of energy principle: energy cannot be created or destroyed, when work is
done, energy is changed from one form to another. The most everyday example of this is when we
move, our cells turn chemical energy (in glucose bonds) into thermal and kinetic energy.
Kinetic energy (J) = ½ x Mass x
Velocity2 ke = ½ x m x v2
Gravitational Potential Energy (J) = Mass (kg) x Gravity (m/s2)
x Height (m) gpe = m x g x h

1.6 (b) Energy resources

•Renewable source of energy: is inexhaustible, for example solar, hydroelectric, wind etc.
Non-renewable source of energy: is exhaustible for example fossil fuels
•fuels can be burnt (or nuclear fuel can be forced to decay) in thermal power stations to transform the
chemical energy stored to thermal energy which makes steam which turns turbines (kinetic energy) to
produce electricity
-advantage: cheap, plentiful, low-tech
-disadvantage: harmful wastes - produces greenhouse gases and pollutant gases, radiation...
•hydroelectric dams: river and rain water fill up a lake behind a dam. As water rushes down through
the dam, it turns turbines which turn generators
•tidal power scheme: a dam is built across a river where it meets the sea. The lake behind the dam
fills when the tide comes in and empties when the tide goes out. The flow of water turns the generator.
-advantage: no greenhouse gases are produced
-disadvantage: expensive, can’t be built everywhere
•wave energy: generators are driven by the up and down motion of the waves at sea.
-advantage: does not produce greenhouse gases
-disadvantage: difficult to build
•geothermal resources: water is pumped down to hot rocks deep underground and rises as steam.
-advantage: no carbon dioxide is produced
-disadvantage: deep drilling is difficult and expensive
•nuclear fission: uranium atoms are split by shooting neutrons at them.
-advantage: produces a lot of energy from using very little resources
-disadvantage: producing radioactive waste
•solar cells: are made of materials that can deliver an electrical current when they absorb light energy
•solar panels: absorb the energy and use it to heat water
-advantage: does not produce carbon dioxide
-disadvantage: variable amounts of sunshine in some countries
•Efficiency: how much useful work is done with the energy supplied.
Efficiency (%) = Useful Work Done (J) / Total Energy
Input (J) Efficiency (%) = Useful Energy Output (J) / Total
Energy Input (J) Efficiency (%) = Useful Power Output
(W) / Total Power Input (W)
•In the sun, energy is created through a process called nuclear fusion: hydrogen nuclei are pushed
together to form helium.
1.6 (c) Work
• Work is done when ever a force makes something move. The unit for work is the Joule (J). 1 joule of
work = force of 1 Newton moves an object by 1 metre (again, if you employ the formula its common
sense)
W=Fxd
Work done (J) = Force (N) x
Distance (m)
1.6
(d) Power (W) = Work done (J) / Time Taken (s)
Power

1.7
Pressur
e
•If a heavier person steps on your foot, it hurts more than if a light person does it. If someone with high
heels steps on your foot then it hurts more than if someone with large flat shoes does it, so we know that
if force increases, pressure increases and if area decreases, pressure increases and vice versa.
Pressure (Pa) = Force (N) /
area (m2) P = F/A
•The barometer has a tube with vacuum at the top and mercury filling the rest. The pressure of the air
pushes down on the reservoir, forcing the mercury up the tube. You measure the height of the mercury in
the test tube, and the units used are mm of mercury. ~760 mm of mercury is 1 atm.
•A manometer measures the pressure difference. The height difference shows the excess
pressure: the extra pressure in addition to atmospheric pressure.
•Pressure in liquids is called hydrostatic pressure. It increases with depth and given by this formula:
p= ρxgxh
Pressure (Pa) = Density (kg/m3) x Gravity (m/s2) x Height
(m)
2. Thermal physics
2.1 Simple kinetic molecular model of matter
2.1 (a) States of matter

Solid: fixed shape and volume

Liquid: has fixed volume but changes shape depending on its container
Gases: no fixed shape or volume, gases fill up their containers
2.1 (b)
Molecular model
Solid:
1. Strong forces of attraction between particles
2. Have a fixed pattern (lattice)
3. Atoms vibrate but can’t change position.
Liquid:
1. Weaker attractive forces than solids
2. No fixed pattern
3. Particles slide past each other.
Gas:
1. Almost no intermolecular forces
2. Particles are far apart, and move quickly, gases spread out to fill up the container and exert
equal pressure on all surfaces.
3. They collide with each other and bounce in all directions.
• The hotter a material is, the faster its particles move, and the more internal energy they have.
• The pressure gases exert on a container is due to the particles colliding on the container walls.
• If the volume is constant, then increasing the temperature will increase the pressure.
• If you look at smoke through a microscope, you will see the particles move in a zigzag motion. This is
known as Brownian motion. The smoke particles have very little mass but are larger enough to be
seen. They collide with the air particles randomly and move in different directions, to give a random
motion.
• Liquids and gases do not have a fixed shape because of their weak forces of attraction. Gases can be
compressed because there is plenty of space between the particles; solids can’t because such space does
not exist. The particles in a solid cannot move because they are held tightly together by the attractive
forces, but can vibrate.
2.1 (c) Evaporation
• Evaporation: constantly occurs on the surface of liquids. It is the escape of the more energetic
particles. If the more energetic particles escape, the liquid contains fewer high energy particles and
more lower energy particles so the average temperature decreases.
• Evaporation can be accelerated by:
-increasing temperature: more particles have enough energy to escape
-increasing surface area: more molecules are close to the surface
-reduce the humidity level in the air: molecules in the water vapour return to the liquid at around the
same rate that particles escape the liquid, when the air is humid. If the air is less humid, fewer particles
are condensing.
-blow air across the surface: removes molecules before they can return to the liquid
2.1 (d) Pressure changes
The relationship between pressure and volume of a fixed amount of gas at a fixed temperature can be
expressed by the formula:
P1 x V 1 = P2 x V 2
This is also known as Boyle’s law. This is proven by the kinetic theory. If the volume is halved and the
same amount of gas is on the inside of the container, twice as many impacts will occur on the surface.
2.2 Thermal properties
2.2 (a) Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases
• Solids, liquids and gasses expand when they are heated as the atoms vibrate more and this causes
them to become further apart, taking up a greater volume.
• Everyday applications and consequences:
-hot water is used to heat up a lid of a jar, to make it expand, so that it is easier to remove
-the liquid in thermometers expand and contract when temperature changes, the volume of the liquid
taken up in the tube can be used to find out the temperature
-bimetal thermostat: when the temperature gets too high, the bimetal strip bends, to make contacts
separate until the temperature falls enough, then the metal strip will become straight again and the
contacts touch, to maintain a steady temperature
-overhead cables have to be slack so that on cold days, when they contract, they don’t snap or detach.
-gaps have to be left in bridge to allow for expansion (rollers allow the bridge to expand)
• “For a fixed mass of gas at constant pressure, the volume is directly proportional to the Kelvin temperature.”
• Expansion is highest in gases, then liquids and lowest in solids.
2.2 (b) Measurement of temperature
• A physical property that varies with temperature may be used for measurement of temperature for example:
-liquid-in-glass thermometer: the property is thermal expansion. As temperature rises or falls, the
liquid (mercury or alcohol) expands or contracts. The amount of expansion can be matched to a

temperature on the scale.

-thermistor thermometer (left): the probe contains a thermistor is a material that becomes a better
electrical conductor when the temperature rises, so a higher current flows from a battery, causing a higher
reading on the meter.
-thermocouple thermometer (right): the probe contains 2 different metals joined metals to form 2
junctions. The temperature difference causes a tiny voltage which makes a current flow. A greater
temperature difference gives a greater current. Thermocouple thermometers are used for high
temperatures which change rapidly. They have a large range (-200C° to 1100°C) and can be connected to
electrical circuits or a computer.
• Fixed points are definite temperatures at which something happens (when pure water freezes/ice
melts: the lower fixed point or ice point and when pure water boils: the upper fixed point or
steam
point) which are used to calibrate a thermometer.
• Calibrating a thermometer (right):
-place thermometer in melting ice. Where the thread is now is 0 °C.
-place thermometer in boiling water. Where the thread is now is 100 °C.
• Sensitivity:
To increase the sensitivity of thermometers you have to put the liquid in a
narrower tube. This makes more distance for same amount of expansion of
liquid. Mercury expands less than alcohol. Sensitivity can be increased by
using a material that expands more during a temperature change.
• Range:
The maximum and minimum temperature of
thermometers Mercury = -39 °C to 500 °C
Alcohol = -115 °C to 68 °C
• Responsiveness:
How long it takes for the thermometer to react to a change in temperature (increased by making the glass
bulb thinner or making the bulb smaller)
• Linearity:
If the sizes of the individual degrees are closer to each other then it is more linear.
2.2 (c) Thermal capacity
• When something has a rise in temperature, its internal energy increases.
• Thermal capacity: capacity for absorbing thermal energy, given by this formula:
Thermal capacity = specific heat capacity (J/Kg) × mass
• Specific heat capacity: is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of a
substance by 1°C, the unit for specific heat capacity is J/(Kg°C)
Specific heat capacity = energy transferred / (mass ×
temperature change) c = E / (m × ΔT)
Energy transferred = mass × specific heat capacity × temperature change
E = mc ΔT
• An experiment can be carried out to find the specific heat capacity of a substance.
You should know the power of the electric heater, the amount of time it is left on, the
mass of the material being tested and the temperature change. For a liquid, it can be
simply poured in, but for a solid like Aluminium, holes have to be drilled in for the
heater and thermometer.
Power of heater × time left on = energy supplied by heater
Energy supplied by heater / (mass × temperature change) = specific heat capacity
The experiment makes no allowance for any thermal energy lost from the beaker, so the value
of c is approximate.

2.2 (d) Melting and boiling

• When melting or boiling a substance, energy is put in, but there is no change in temperature. The
energy absorbed is called the latent heat of fusion/vaporization. A change of state happens when
the particles have enough energy to overcome the forces between them. In melting, the solid vibrates so
much that the particles can break away from their positions.

The latent heat of fusion is the amount of energy needed to melt 1Kg of a substance.
The latent heat of vaporisation is the amount of energy needed to boil 1Kg of a
substance When a substance freezes it is losing the same amount of energy as the
latent heat of fusion

• Melting point is the temperature at which a substance (in solid state) melts (it is equal to the freezing point)
• Boiling point is the temperature at which a substance (in liquid state) boils (“you don’t say”)

• Condensation and solidification: is when a gas turns back into a liquid. When a gas is cooled, the
particles lose energy. They move more and more slowly. When they bump into each other, they do not
have enough energy to bounce away again. They stay close together, and a liquid forms. When a liquid
cools, the particles slow down even more. Eventually they stop moving except for vibrations and a solid
forms.

• Evaporation and boiling: evaporation constantly occurs on the surface of liquids. The high
energy particles escape from the liquid, even at low temperatures. Boiling occurs at the boiling point (I
bet you did not know that) and then the liquid evaporates everywhere in the liquid (not just on the
surface) and is much faster.

• Measure the specific latent heat of vaporisation/fusion of:

1) Ice – the apparatus is set up like in the diagram below on the left, you need to know the power
of the heater, how long it is left on for, how much water is produced in kilograms then you do the
following calculations:
Power × time = energy transferred
Energy transferred / mass = latent heat of fusion
So, (power of heater × time left on) / mass of water in beaker in kilograms = latent heat of fusion
2) Water – the apparatus is set up like in the diagram on the right. The electric heater is left on for
a certain amount of time (you don’t have to boil all the water, just some of it). You need to know: power of
the heater, and how long it is left on for.
Power of heater × time left on / change in mass = latent heat of vaporization.

2.3 Transfer of thermal energy

2.3 (a) Conduction
These experiments show which metal is the best conductor (copper and A), and which is the worst (steel and D)

Conduction: in non-metals - when heat is supplied to something, its atoms vibrate faster and pass on
their vibrations to the adjacent atoms. In metals – conduction happens in the previous way and in a
quicker way – some electrons are free to move, they travel randomly in the
metal and collide with atoms and pass on the vibrations.
2.3 (b) Convection
Convection: as a fluid (liquid or gas) warms up, the particles which are
warmer become less dense and rise. They then cool and fall back to the
heat source, creating a cycle called a convection current. As particles
circulate they transfer energy to other particles. If a cooling object is
above a fluid it will create a convection current (like the freezing
compartment at the top of a fridge)
2.3 (c) Radiation
Thermal radiation is mainly infra-red waves, but very hot objects also give out light waves. Infra-red radiation
is part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Matt Black White Silver
emitter best worst
reflector worst best
absorber best worst
An emitter sends out thermal radiation. A reflector reflects thermal radiation, therefore is a bad absorber. An
emitter will cool down quickly, an absorber will heat up more quickly and a reflector will not heat up
quickly.
2.3 (d) Consequences of energy transfer
Applications
-solar panel: the sun’s thermal radiation is absorbed by a matt black surface and warms up the pipes containing
water
-refrigerator: the freezer compartment is located at the top of the refrigerator. It cools down the air which
then sinks. Any warm air rises to the top and then is cooled. This creates a convection current which
maintains a cold temperature.
-metals are used in cooking pans because they conduct the heat well
Consequences
-a metal spoon in a hot drink will warm up because it conducts the heat
-Convection currents create sea breezes. During the day the land is warmer and acts as heat source.
During the night the sea acts as the heat source.

-a black saucepan cools better than a white one, white houses stay cooler than dark ones.
3. Properties of waves, including light and sound
3.1 General wave properties
• Wavefront: the peak of a transverse wave or the compression of a longitudinal wave
• Speed: how fast the wave travels measured in m/s
• Frequency: the number of waves passing any point per second measured in hertz (Hz), given by this formula:
Frequency = 1 / period
• Wavelength: the distance between a point on one wave (e.g. the trough) to the equivalent point on the next wave
in
meters e.g. from crest to crest or compression to compression
• Amplitude: the maximum distance a wave moves from its rest position when a wave passes
• Period: the time taken for one oscillation in seconds

• Transverse waves (e.g. light waves) have oscillations at right-angles to the direction of travel, where
as in longitudinal waves the oscillations are in the direction of travel. Transverse waves have crests
(peaks) and troughs; where as longitudinal waves (e.g. sound waves) have compressions and
rarefactions.

Reflection, refraction and diffraction of water

waves Refraction:

Reflection:

Diffraction:

Reflection: waves bounce away from the surface at the same angle they strike it, (angle of incidence =
angle of reflection).
Refraction: when the water waves pass through shallower water they slow down the waves. When waves
slow down they change direction.
Things to note about refraction:
-waves slow down when they pass from a less to a more dense material and vice versa
-when a wave is slowed down, it is refracted towards the normal (i > r)
-when a wave is sped up, it is refracted away from the normal (i < r)
-deep water is denser than shallow water
Diffraction: waves bend round the sides of an obstacle, or spread out as they pass through a gap.
Wider gaps produce less diffraction.
• The wave equation is:
Speed (m/s) = Frequency (Hz) x
Wavelength (m) v = f
3.2 Light xλ
3.2 (a) Reflection of
light
• Plane (flat) mirrors produce a reflection. Rays from an object reflect
off the mirror into our eyes, but we see them behind the mirror. The
image has these properties:
-the image is the same size as the object
-the image is the same distance from the mirror as the object
-a line joining equivalent points of the image and object meet the mirror
at a right angle
-the image is virtual: no rays actually pass through the image and the
image cannot be formed on a screen
• Laws of reflection:
Angle of incidence = angle of reflection
The incident ray, reflected ray and normal are always on the
same plane (side of mirror)
3.2 (b) Refraction of light
• Experimental demonstration: 1. the optical pin method:

1. Place a rectangular glass slab on a white sheet of paper fixed on a drawing board.
2. Trace the boundary ABCD of the glass slab.
3. Remove the glass slab. Draw an incident ray IO on AB.
4. Draw the normal at point of incidence (NN1 through O)
5. Fix two pins P and Q on the incident ray IO.
6. Place the glass slab within its boundary ABCD.
7. Looking from the other side of the glass slab fix two pins R and S such that your eye and the feet of all
the pins are in one straight line.
8. Remove the glass slab and the pins. Mark the pin points P1, P2, P3 and P4.
9. Join OO1.It is the refracted ray.
10. Measure are the angle of incidence, angle of refraction
and angle of emergence respectively.
11. 1
12. Extend O E backwards. The emergent ray is parallel to the incident ray.
Ray box method:
Using the ray box pass a ray through a glass slab on a white sheet of paper. Mark two points on the
incident ray with your pen/pencil on the paper, two of the refracted ray, 2 of the emergent ray and the
outline of the glass slab. Then by connecting the dots you can produce a diagram like the one below, a
protractor is used to find the angles.
• When a ray passes through a parallel sided transparent material its passage will look like this:

Note: the emergent ray is parallel to the incident ray.

• Critical angle: the angle at which the refracted ray is parallel to the surface of the material. If the angle
of incidence is greater than the critical angle there is no refracted ray, there is total internal reflection.
If the angle of incidence is less than the critical angle the incidence ray will split into a refracted ray and a

weaker reflected ray.

Refractive index = speed of light in vacuum / speed of light
in medium
 Refractive index = sin i / sin r
When the incidence angle is equal to the critical angle, the angle of refraction is 90° (parallel to the
surface). Since sin90° equals 1, then a ray coming the other way (the arrow is inverted) would have an
angle of incidence of 90° and an angle of refraction of c. If we apply Snell’s law:
n = sin90° / sinc
Sin (critical angle) = 1
/ n Critical angle = sin-
1
(1/n)
• Optical fibres: light put in at one end is totally internally reflected until it comes out the other end.
This is used in communications where signals are coded and sent along the fibre as pulses of laser
light, and in medicine: an endoscope, an instrument used by surgeons to look inside the body. It
contains a long bundle of optic fibres.
3.2 (c) Thin converging lens
• Principal focus: the point where rays parallel to the principal axis converge with a converging lens.
• Focal length: distance from the principle focus and the optical centre.
• Principal axis: the line the goes through the optical centre, and the 2 foci.
• Optical centre: the centre of the lens
This is a real image (when the object is further away from the optical centre than F’ is):

A) A ray through the centre of the lens passes straight through the lens.
B) A ray parallel to the principal axis passes through the focus on the other side of the lens
C) A ray through F’ will leave the lens parallel to the principal axis.

• This is a virtual image (when the object is closer to the optical centre than F’ is):

• Magnifying glass: when a convex lens is used like this - an object is closer to a convex (converging)
lens than the principal focus (like the diagram above), the rays never converge. Instead, they appear to
come from a position behind the lens. The image is upright and magnified, it is a virtual image.
3.2 (d) Dispersion of light
• Refraction by a prism: When light is refracted by a prism, the
incidence ray is not parallel to the emergent ray, since the prism’s
sides are not parallel. If a beam of white light is passed through a
prism it is dispersed into a spectrum. White light is a mixture of
colours, and the prism refracts each colour by a different amount –
red is deviated the least and violet the most.
3.2 (e) Electromagnetic spectrum
• All electromagnetic waves:
-travel at the speed of light: 3 × 108m/s
-do not need a medium to travel through i.e. can travel through a vacuum
-can transfer energy
-are produced by particles oscillating or losing energy in some way
-are transverse waves
• Uses:
Radio waves – radio and television communications
Microwaves – satellite television and telephones
Infrared – electrical appliances (radiant heaters and grills), remote controllers for televisions and intruder alarms
X-rays – medicine (x-ray photography and killing cancer cells) and security
• Safety issues:
X-rays – is a mutagen, it cause cancer (mutations)
Microwaves – cause internal heating of body tissues
• Monochromatic: light of a single wavelength and colour (used in lasers)
3.3 Sound
• Production: sound waves come from a vibrating source for example a loudspeaker. As the
loudspeaker cone vibrates, it moves forwards and backwards, which squashes and stretches the air in
front. As a result, a series of compressions (squashes) and rarefactions (stretches) travel out through
the air, these are sound waves.
• Sound waves are longitudinal: they have compressions and rarefactions and oscillate backwards and
forwards.
• Humans can hear frequencies between 20 and 20 000Hz.
• Sound waves need a medium (a material)
to travel through.
• Experiment: When sound reflects off of a wall,
it will come back to you. This is what you hear
as an echo. If you know the distance between
you and the wall, and measure how long it
takes for the echo to sound, you can figure out
the speed of sound in air. Remember to take
into account that the sound has gone there
and back
• Higher frequency → a higher
pitch Larger amplitude →
louder sound
• Compression: high pressure section of the wave
Rarefaction: low pressure section of the wave

• Speed of sound is highest in solids (concrete: 5000m/s) then in liquids (pure water: 1400m/s) and
slowest in gases (air: 330m/s).
4. Electricity and magnetism
4.1 Simple phenomena of magnetism
• Magnets have these properties:
-has a magnetic field around it
-has 2 opposite poles (North or north-seeking pole and South or south-seeking pole) which exert forces
on other magnets. Like poles repel and unlike poles attract.
-will attract magnetic materials by inducing (permanent or temporary) magnetism in them.
-will exert little or no force on a non-magnetic material
• Induced magnetism: magnets attract materials by inducing magnetism in them, in other words the
material becomes a magnet as well. The side of the material facing the magnet will become the opposite
pole as the magnet.
• Ferrous material: magnetic – anything which contains iron, nickel, or cobalt can be magnetised
• Non-ferrous material: non-magnetic e.g. copper, grass, ketchup, butter, wood, ass-gravy (poop) etc.
• Magnetisation methods:
-inducing magnetism produces a weak magnet. It can be magnetised strongly by stroking with one end
of a magnet, in one direction.
-the most effective method is to place the metal in a long coil of wire (solenoid) and pass a large DC
(direct current) through the coil.
• Demagnetisation methods:
 -SMASH IT WITH A HAMMER, dropping etc.
-heating to a high temperature
-solenoid method but with alternating current
• Iron vs. steel: iron is a soft ferromagnetic material meaning
it will magnetise and demagnetise easily. Steel is a hard
ferromagnetic material meaning it is hard to magnetise and
demagnetise. Soft ferromagnetic materials are used to create
temporary magnets, for example the magnets which lift cars
in a rubbish dump, or the magnet in a circuit breaker. Hard
ferromagnetic materials are used to create permanent
magnets like fridge magnets, horse-shoe magnets.
The magnetic field lines go from north to south. The north
pole of a magnet can be found by placing a compass
near the magnet. The needle will point the direction of the
magnetic field line.
4.2 Electrical quantities
4.2 (a) Electric charge
• Detecting charge:
You can detect an electrostatic charge using a leaf
electroscope.
If a charged object is placed near the cap, charges are
induced. The metal cap gets one type of charge (positive
or negative) and the metal stem and gold leaf get the
other type of charge so they repel each other.
• There are 2 types of charges: positive and negative.
• Unlike charges attract and like charges repel.
• Electric field: a region in which an electric charge experiences a force
• Conductors: materials that let electrons pass through them. Metals are the best electrical conductors as they have
free electrons. This also makes them good thermal conductors
• Insulators: materials that hardly conduct at all. Their electrons are tightly held to atoms and hardly
move, but they can be transferred by rubbing
• The SI unit of charge is the
Coulomb (C). Electric field lines :

• Induced Charge: a charge that “appears” on an uncharged object because of a charged object
nearby, for example if a positively charged rod is brought near a small piece of aluminium foil. Electrons in
the foil are pulled towards the rod, which leaves the bottom of the foil with a net positive charge. The
attraction is stronger than the repulsion because the attracting charges are closer than the repelling ones.
4.2 (b) Current
• Current: a flow of charge, the SI unit is the Ampere (A).
• An ammeter measures the current in a circuit. It is connected in series, the current is a rate of flow of charge.
Charge (C) = current (A) x
time (s) C = I x t
• The conventional current direction is the direction the positive particles would travel in. This is the
opposite of what actually happens, as it is the negative particles (electrons) that move. Conventional current
is indicated with arrows on the lines (wires). Conventional current goes from the positive side (long line in
cell drawing) to the negative side (short
line in cell drawing). Actual current goes from the negative side (short line in cell drawing) to the positive
side (long line in cell drawing).

4.2 (c) Electro-motive force

• The maximum voltage a cell can produce is called the electromotive force (EMF), measured in volts.
When a current is being supplied, the voltage is lower because of the energy wastage inside the cell. A cell
produces its maximum PD when not in a circuit and not supplying current.

4.2 (d) Potential Difference

• Potential difference, or PD for short, is also known as voltage. Voltage is the amount of energy the
cell gives the electrons it pushes out. Voltage is measured in volts (V) and is measured by a voltmeter
(connected in parallel). If a cell has 1 Volt, it delivers 1 Joule of energy to each coulomb of charge (J/C).
Voltage = Energy /
Charge Volts =
Joules / Coulomb V =
E/C

4.2 (e) Resistance

Resistance (Ω) = potential difference (V) /
current (A) R = V / I
• Factors affecting
resistance:
-Length
Double the length = double the resistance (proportional)
-Cross-sectional area
Half the cross-sectional area = double the resistance (inversely proportional)
-Material
Better conductor = less resistance
-Temperature
For metal conductors higher temperature = more resistance
For semi-metal conductors higher temperature = less
resistance The V =IR law can be investigated with the
following apparatus:

4.2 (f) Electrical

energy Electrical power = Voltage (V) ×
Current (A) P = V × I
Electrical energy (J) = power (W) ×
time (s)
 E=P×t
Electrical energy (J) = Voltage (V) × Current (A)
× time (s) E = V × I × t
4.3 Electrical
circuits
4.3 (a) Circuit
diagrams
Compone Symbol Function
nt
Source Cell: Supplies electrical energy.
The larger terminal (on the left) is
positive (+).
Battery: Supplies electrical
energy. A battery is more than one
cell. The larger terminal (on the left)
is positive (+).
DC: flows in one direction
AC: flows in both directions
Switch Allows current only to flow when the
switch
is closed
Fixed Restrict the flow of current.
resistor
Variable Used to control current (by varying the
resistor resistance)

Lamp Transducer which converts electrical

energy to light

Ammeter Measure current

Voltmeter Measure voltage

Magnetisin < I don’t know if that’s the correct

g symbol
coil
Transforme Two coils of wire linked by an iron core.
r Transformers are used to step up
(increase) and step down
(decrease) AC voltages. Energy is
transferred between the coils by the
magnetic field in the core. There is no
electrical connection between the
coils.
Bell Transducer which converts electrical
energy to sound

Fuse A safety device which will 'blow' (melt) if

the current flowing through it exceeds a
specified value, breaking the cicruit
Relay An electrically operated switch, for
 example a 9V battery circuit connected
to the coil can switch a 230V AC mains
circuit (the one on the left is the
‘normally closed’
since the electromagnet is used to pull
away the contacts and vice versa)

or

Diode A device which only allows current to

flow
in one direction.
Transistor A transistor amplifies current. It can be
used with other components to make
an amplifier or switching circuit.

4.3 (b) Series and parallel circuits

• The current at any point in a series circuit is the same
• The current splits at each branch in a parallel circuit so the total current is always greater than the
current in one branch
• Combining Resistors:
In series:
Rtotal = R1 +
R2 In
parallel:
Rtotal = 1/(1/R1 + 1/R2)
• The combined resistance of 2 resistors in parallel is less than that of either resistor by itself
• The advantages of putting lamps in parallel are:
-if one lamp breaks, the other still works
-each lamp gets maximum PD
• in series: PD across the supply = PD across all the components combined
• in parallel: Current across the source = sum of currents in the separate branches
4.3 (c) Action and use of circuit components
• A potential divider divides the voltage into smaller parts. To find the voltage (at Vout) we use the following
formula:
Vout = Vin x ( R2 / Rtotal )

• A variable potential divider (potentiometer) is the same as the one above but using a variable
resistor; it acts like a potential divider, but you can change the output voltage.
• Thermistor: input sensor and a transducer. It is a temperature-dependent resistor. At higher
temperature there is less resistance.
• Light dependent resistor (LDR): input sensor and a transducer. When light intensity
increases, resistance decreases.
• Capacitor: store small amounts of electric charge. If a capacitor has a higher capacitance (in µF
microfarads) means they can store more charge. They are used in time-delay circuits.
• Relay: a switch operated by an electromagnet
Normally closed relay (symbol): Normally open relay (symbol):

• Diode: a device that has an extremely high resistance in one direction and a low resistance in the other,
therefore it effectively only allows current to flow in 1 direction (the arrow on it is pointing in the
conventional current direction).Forward bias is when the diode is pointing in the direction of the
conventional current and reverse bias is the opposite
It can be used in a rectifier. A rectifier turns AC current into DC current.

Diodes work when the PD exceeds 0.6V so the PD vs. current graph would look like this:

• Transistor: used for amplifying signals and for switching. It has three terminals: the
emitter, base and collector. Using a transistor, a small current in one circuit can controls a
large current in the other. The conventional current direction has to be the same as the
arrow for it to work. If no current travels from the base to the emitter, the transistor has a
blocking effect (on the left):
 Current in a transistor: IE
= IB + IC Current
gain = IC / IB
In the set up on the right, the transistor will switch on and the bulb will light when the resistance is high in
the variable resistor. Using thermistors or a light-dependent resistor instead of the variable resistor, the
circuit can act by itself for example a heater can switch on when it gets cold. The transistor will switch on
when the voltage exceeds about 0.6V.
4.3 (d) Digital electronics
• Analogue uses a whole range of continuous variations to transmit a signal. Digital signals use only 2
states, on and off. With on and off signals logic gates can be used to manipulate these. Logic gates are
processors (manipulate the signals) that are circuits containing transistors and other components. Here

are the logic gates that we need to know:

4.4 Dangers of electricity
• Damaged insulation: contact with the wire (live wire especially) due to gap in the insulation causes
electric shock which can cause serious injury or shock.
• Overheating of cables: when long extension leads are coiled up, they may overheat. The current
warms the wire, but the heat has less area to escape from a tight bundle. This might cause a fire.
• Damp conditions: water can conduct a current, so if electrical equipment is wet someone might get electrocuted YAY!
• Fuses: a thin piece of wire which overheats and melts (the fuse ‘blows’) if the current is too high. It is
placed on the live wire before the switch. This prevents overheating and catching fire. A fuse will have a
specific current value (e.g. 13A) so when choosing a suitable fuse you must use the one which can have
the lowest current value but over the current value of the appliance.
*The plug:
• Circuit breakers: an automatic switch which if the current rises over a specified value, the
electromagnet pulls the contacts apart, breaking the circuit. The reset button is to rest everything. It
works like a fuse but is better because it can be reset.

4.5 Electromagnetic effects

4.5 (a) Electromagnetic induction

• An induced EMF can be made in several ways:

1. If a wire is passed across a magnetic field, a small
EMF is induced, this is electromagnetic induction. If the wire
forms part of a complete circuit, the EMF makes a current flow.
This can be detected using a galvanometer. The EMF induced
in a conductor is proportional to the rate at which the magnetic
field lines are cut by the conductor.
The induced EMF can be increased by:
-moving the wire faster
-using a stronger magnet
-increasing the length of wire in the magnetic field – for example, looping the wire through the field several
times.
The current and EMF direction can be reversed by:
-moving the wire in the opposite direction
-turning the magnet round so that the field direction is
reversed The current direction is given by Fleming’s right-hand
rule:

2. A bar magnet is pushed into a coil. If the coil is part of a circuit, a current will flow;
 The induced EMF (and current) can be increased by:
-moving the magnet faster
-using a stronger magnet
-increasing the number of turns in the coil
-If the magnet is pulled away, the direction of the induced EMF (and current) is reversed
-using the S pole instead of the N pole reverses the direction of the induced EMF (and current)
-if the magnet is held still, there is no EMF
An induced current always flows in a direction such that it opposes the change which produced it. When a
magnet is moved towards a coil the pole of the coil and magnet next to each other are the same. When
the magnet is moved away the poles are opposite (opposite poles attract). The pole-type (north or south)
is controlled by the direction in which the current is induced. The direction of the current is given by the

right-hand grip rule:

The fingers point in the conventional current direction and the thumb gives the North Pole.
4.5 (b) A.C. generator
•The coil is made of insulated copper wire and is rotated by turning the shaft. The slip rings are fixed to
the coil and rotate with it. The brushes are 2 contacts which rub against the slip rings and keep the coil
connected to the outside part of the circuit, usually made of carbon. When the coil is rotated, it cuts
magnetic field lines, so an EMF is generated, which makes a current flow. Each side of the coil travels
upwards then downwards then upwards etc. so the current flows backwards then forwards then
backwards etc. so it is an alternating current. The current is maximum when the coil is horizontal since
field lines are being cut at the fastest rate and 0 when the coil is vertical, since it is cutting NO field lines.
The EMF can be increased by:
-increasing the number of turns on the coil
-increasing the area of the coil
-using a stronger magnet
-rotating the coil faster
4.5 (c) Transformer
• AC currents (only, not DC) can be increased or decreased by using a transformer. A transformer is made
of a primary/input coil, a secondary/output coil and an iron core. The iron core gets magnetised by
the incoming current. This magnetism then creates a current in the leaving wire. The power is the same
on both sides (since we assume 100% efficiency and that all the field lines pass through both coils). You
can figure out the number of coils and the voltage with:

Output voltage / Input voltage = Turns on output coil / Turns

on input coil V2 / V1 = n2 / n1
Input voltage × input current = output voltage ×
output current V1 × I1 = V2 × I2
Power1 = Power2
A transformer works by mutual induction. As you saw before, an EMF (and current) can be induced by
moving a magnetic field. A changing magnetic field can have the same effect. Turning an electromagnet
next to a coil on or off will induce a very short-lasting EMF in the coil, but leaving the electromagnet on will
not, since the magnetic field is not changing. Switching the electromagnet off will induce an EMF in the
opposite direction of switching it on. The EMF can be increased if the core of the electromagnet goes right
though the second coil or increasing the number of coils in the second coil. An alternating current in a
transformer’s primary coil creates an alternating magnetic field in the core and therefore in the second coil.
The alternating magnetic field creates an alternating voltage in the second coil.

• A step-up transformer increases the voltage and a

step-down transformer decreases it.
• Transformers are used to make high voltage AC
currents. Since power lost in a resistor = R × I2, having a
lower current will decrease the power loss. Since
transmission cables are many kilometres long they have a
lot of resistance, so a transformer is used to increase the
voltage and decrease the current to decease power lost.
• The advantages of high-voltage transmission:
-less power lost
-thinner, light, and cheaper cables can be used since
current is reduced
4.5 (d) The magnetic effect of a current
• Magnetic field around a current carrying wire and a solenoid:
1. Increasing the current increases the strength of the field
2. Increasing the number of turns of a coil increases the strength.
3. Reversing the current direction reverses the magnetic field direction (right-hand rule).
• The magnetic effect of current is used in a relay and a circuit breaker.

4.5 (e) Force on a current-carrying conductor

• If a current carrying conductor is in a magnetic field, it warps the field lines. The field lines from the
magnet want to straighten out naturally. This causes a catapult like action on the wire creating a force.
The direction of the force, current or magnetic field is given by Fleming’s left-hand rule:

-if you reverse the current, you will reverse the direction of the force
-if you reverse the direction of the field, you will reverse the direction of the force.

• “Describe an experiment to show the corresponding force on beams of charged particles”

An electron gun creates a beam of electrons. The screen is coated with a fluorescent material which glows
when electrons strike it. Current is passed through a pair of coils, to create a magnetic field. NOTE: the
direction of the electron beam is the opposite to the conventional current direction so when using the left-
hand rule you have to point in the opposite direction of the electron beam.
4.5 (f) d.c. motor

• When a current-carrying coil is in a magnetic field, it experiences

a turning effect. A DC motor runs on a direct current. The coil is made of
insulated copper wire. It is free to rotate between the poles of the
magnet. The commutator, or split-ring, is fixed to the coil and rotates
with it. When the coil overshoots the vertical, the commutator changes
the direction of the current through it, so the forces change direction and
keep the coil turning. The brushes are two contacts which rub against
the commutator and keep the coil connected to the battery. They are
usually made of carbon. The maximum turning effect if when the coil is
horizontal. There is no force when the coil is vertical (but luckily it always
overshoots this position).

• The turning effect can be increased by:

-increasing the current
-using a stronger magnet
-increasing the number of coils (increases the length of coil)
-increasing the area of the coil (increases the length of coil)
• Reversing the rotation can be done by:
-reversing the battery
-reversing the poles
This equation isn’t needed but is useful for remembering the ways to increase the turning
effect: Force exerted on wire = magnetic field strength × current × length of wire
4.6 Cathode-ray oscilloscopes
4.6 (a) Cathode rays
Cathode rays are thermionic emissions – if a metal or metal oxide filament is heated (to about 2000°C
for tungsten), electrons can escape it. So a thermionic emission is made of electrons. The hot conductor
is the cathode (-). The other electrode is the anode (+). When the filament (cathode) is heated, a
current flows to the anode. This happens in a vacuum tube (in air the electrons would collide with air
particles and the filament would burn). A vacuum tube is also called a thermionic diode, as the electrons
can only pass one way. The current can be detected with a milliammeter.
4.6 (b) Simple treatment of cathode-ray oscilloscope
A cathode-ray oscilloscope is structured like this

• There is a bright spot on the fluorescent screen where the beam of electrons hits it. If you deflect the
beam, the spot can be moved. If the spot moves fast enough, it appears to be a line. The beam is
deflected using 2 sets of deflection plates:
• Y-plates move the beam vertically. The amount of vertical movement can be increased by turning up the
gain control. (A gain control of 5V/cm means the spot is deflected 1cm vertically for every 5 volts across
the Y-input terminals).
-direct current moves the position of the spot
-alternating current makes the spot oscillate vertically
• X-plates move the beam horizontally, controlled by a circuit called a timebase.
-if the timebase is on, the spot moves horizontally with a steady speed
-if the timebase is on and there is AC voltage across the Y-plates, then the spot oscillates
vertically and moves horizontally at steady speed. If the timebase is set at 10ms/cm that means it takes
10 milliseconds to move a cm horizontally.

• The period is given by:

Period = peak-to-peak distance × timebase control (basically time = distance
× speed) Frequency = 1 / period
• The beam can also be deflected using a magnetic field (see the end of 4.5 (d) the magnetic affect
of a current) This was not in the syllabus but just in case:
The charge of an electron is 1.6 × 10-19 Coulombs. This is called the electronic charge.
5. Atomic physics
5.1 Radioactivity
5.1 (a) Detection of radioactivity
• Background radiation: the small amount of radiation around us all the time because of radioactive
materials in the environment. It mainly comes from natural sources such as soil, rocks, air, building
materials, food and drink – and even space.
• Detection:
Alpha particles – the cloud chamber:
A chamber has cold alcohol vapour inside it. The alpha particles make the vapour condense, so you see a
trail of tiny droplets. It is useful because it makes the tracks visible.

Alpha, Beta and Gamma – the Geiger-Müller (GM) tube

The “window” end is thin enough for alpha particles to pass through. If an alpha particle enters the tube, it
ionizes the gas inside. This sets off a high-voltage spark across the gas and a pulse of current in the
circuit. A beta particle or gamma radiation has the same effect. It can be connected to a ratemeter (tells
the counts per seconds), a scaler (tells the total number of particles or bursts of gamma radiation) or an
amplifier or loudspeaker (makes a click for every particles/burst of radiation.

5.1 (b) Characteristics of the three kinds of emission

5.1 (c) Radioactive decay
Radioactive decay: A radioisotope (an unstable arrangement of neutrons and protons in a nucleus)
is altered to make a more stable arrangement. The parent nucleus becomes a daughter nucleus and a
particle (decay products). Words and symbol equations using examples:
• Alpha decay:
An element with a proton number 2 lower and nucleon number 4 lower, and an alpha particle is made (2p
+ 2n) e.g. Words: Radium-226 nucleus (parent nucleus) → Radon-222 (daughter nucleus) + helium-4
nucleus (alpha particle)
8 2

→ + Rn
6 4
Symbols: 8226Ra 222 He
8
• Beta decay:
A neutron changes into a proton, an electron and an antineutrino so an element with the same nucleon
number (just 1 neutron is now a proton but the mass is the same) but with a proton number 1 higher e.g.

Symbols:5131𝐼 131 5 𝑋𝑒 +− β
0v
Words: iodine-131 nucleus → xenon-131 nucleus + antineutrino + beta particles (electron)
0
→ 4 1 +
(antineutrino symbol = v with a horizontal line on top of it)
3

0
• Gamma
emission:
With some isotopes, the emission of an alpha or beta particle from a nucleus leaves the protons and
neutrons in an “excited” arrangement. As the protons and neutrons rearrange to become more stable,
they lose energy. This is emitted and the mass and atomic number are uncharged.
Gamma emission by itself causes no change in mass number or atomic number.
5.1 (d) Half-life
• Half-life of a radioisotope: is the time taken for half the nuclei present in any given
sample to decay. Some nuclei are more stable than others.
5.1 (e) Safety precautions
• radioactive stuff is stored in a lead container, in a locked cabinet
• picked up with tongs, not your feet
• kept away from the body, not pointed at people
• left out of its container for as short a time as possible
5.2 The nuclear atom
5.2 (a) Atomic model
• Atoms consist of:
A nucleus – the central part of the atom made of protons (positively charged) and neutrons. These two
types of particles are called nucleons. They are bound together by the strong nuclear force.
Electrons – almost mass-less particles which orbit the nucleus in shells.

Rutherford’s experiment:
Thin gold foil is bombarded with alpha particles, which are positively charged. Most passed straight
through, but few were repelled so strongly that they were bounced back or deflected at large angles.
Rutherford concluded that the atom must be largely empty space, with its positive charge and most of its
mass concentrated in a tiny nucleus.

5.2 (b) Nucleus

• The nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons.
• Proton number: is the number of protons in an atom (you don’t say)
• Nucleon number: the number of nucleons (protons and neutrons) in an atom
5.2 (c) Isotopes
Isotope: atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons
e.g. Carbon 12 and Carbon 14.
-There are non-radioactive isotopes and radio-isotopes. Radio
isotopes are unstable atoms, which break down giving radiation.
-Medical use: cancer treatment (radiotherapy) – rays kill cancer
cells using cobalt-60.
Industrial use: to check for leaks – radioisotopes called tracers are added to oil or gas. At the leaks
radiation is detected using a Geiger counter, (if you need to name an element then say carbon 14 – used
for carbon dating).

This might be useful:

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