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Unit 4: Wave Models and Quantum Physics
Quick questions on Atomic and nuclear physics: WACE Year 12 Physics Unit 4
4short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the Standard Model?Show answer
The Standard Model groups fundamental particles into quarks and leptons. Protons and neutrons are not fundamental: each is made of three quarks (a proton is two up and one down, a neutron is one up and two down). Leptons include the electron and the neutrino. Forces are carried by exchange particles (for example the photon for the electromagnetic force).
What is mass-energy equivalence?Show answer
Mass and energy are interchangeable,
What are nuclear reactions?Show answer
In every nuclear reaction, nucleon number and charge are conserved. Radioactive decay includes alpha emission (a helium nucleus), beta emission (an electron from a neutron changing to a proton) and gamma emission (a high-energy photon as the nucleus de-excites). Fission splits a heavy nucleus into lighter fragments plus neutrons; fusion combines light nuclei. In each case the energy released equals the mass defect times .
What is choosing the right energy relationship?Show answer
Decide whether a question concerns the atom (use with energy levels) or the nucleus (use with masses). Convert atomic mass units to kilograms and electronvolts to joules before substituting, and check that nucleon number and charge balance in any reaction equation.
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