James Chadwick - GCSE Physics Definition

Reviewed by: Caroline Carroll

Published

James Chadwick was a prominent British physicist best known for his discovery of the neutron in 1932, a breakthrough that significantly advanced the understanding of atomic structure. This discovery was crucial because it provided great insight into the makeup of atomic nuclei and explained why atoms have more mass than the total mass of their protons alone would suggest. Chadwick's work played a pivotal role in the development of the atomic model, influencing the fields of nuclear physics and quantum mechanics. This discovery eventually contributed to the development of nuclear energy, and his contributions to science were recognised with the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1935.

Examiner-written GCSE Physics revision resources that improve your grades 2x

  • Written by expert teachers and examiners
  • Aligned to exam specifications
  • Everything you need to know, and nothing you don’t
GCSE Physics revision resources

Share this article

Caroline Carroll

Reviewer: Caroline Carroll

Expertise: Physics & Chemistry Subject Lead

Caroline graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Chemistry and Molecular Physics. She spent several years working as an Industrial Chemist in the automotive industry before retraining to teach. Caroline has over 12 years of experience teaching GCSE and A-level chemistry and physics. She is passionate about creating high-quality resources to help students achieve their full potential.

The examiner written revision resources that improve your grades 2x.

Join now