The Nuclear Model of the Atom (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Physics): Exam Questions

Exam code: 0625 & 0972

2 hours38 questions
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.

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

    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.

    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

      51 mark

      An isotope of uranium is represented by the symbol:

      space bold U presubscript 92 presuperscript 235

      Which of the answers below could be a different 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

      61 mark

      Atom X loses an electron to form an ion. 

      Atom Y gains an electron to form an ion. 

      Which row in the table is correct?

       

        charge on the ion of atom X

          charge on the ion of atom Y

      A

      positive

                      positive

      B

                        positive

                      negative

      C

      negative

                      positive

      D

      negative

                      negative

        71 mark

        A model of an atom consists of small particles orbiting a central nucleus.

         Where is the positive charge in an atom?

        • on the orbiting particles

        • in the nucleus

        • in the space between the nucleus and the orbiting particles

        • spread throughout the atom

        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
          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

          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

          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.

          51 mark

          A nitrogen atom loses an electron. 

          What is it called now?

          • An atom

          • An isotope

          • A negative ion

          • A positive ion

          61 mark

          Extended Tier Only

          Which row in the table describes the process of nuclear fusion and identifies the change in total mass of the particles involved?

           

          process

          change in total mass of the particles

          A

          a large nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei

          decreases

          B

          a large nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei

          increases

          C

          two small nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus

          decreases

          D

          two small nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus

          increases

            71 mark

            Extended Tier Only

            How do the sizes of the two nuclei produced in a nuclear fission reaction compare to the size of the original nucleus?

            • both larger than the original nucleus

            • one larger and one smaller than the original nucleus

            • both smaller than the original nucleus

            • one smaller and one the same size as the original nucleus?

            8
            Sme Calculator
            1 mark

            How are positive and negative ions formed from atoms?

            positive ion

            negative ion

            A

            add positive charge to the nucleus

            add an electron to the atom

            B

            add positive charge to the nucleus

            remove positive charge from the nucleus

            C

            remove an electron from the atom

            add an electron to the atom

            D

            remove an electron from the atom

            remove positive charge from the nucleus

              11 mark

              Extended tier only

              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

                21 mark

                Extended tier only

                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
                  31 mark

                  Extended tier only

                  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.

                  41 mark

                  Extended tier only

                  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.

                  51 mark

                  Extended tier only

                  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.