What this topic covers
Atomic structure has 4 subtopics:
- Atoms and isotopes
- Atoms and nuclear radiation
- Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation (physics only)
- Nuclear fission and fusion (physics only)
GCSE AQA Higher Physics
Atomic structure – GCSE AQA Higher Physics revision notes
Revise Atomic structure for GCSE AQA Higher Physics, including Atoms and isotopes and Atoms and nuclear radiation. 23 lessons across 4 subtopics.
Atomic structure covers Atoms and isotopes, Atoms and nuclear radiation, Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation (physics only), and Nuclear fission and fusion (physics only) in GCSE AQA Higher Physics. 23 lessons in 4 subtopics.
23
Lessons
4
Subtopics
Atomic structure lessons by subtopic
23 lessons, grouped by subtopic.
Atoms and isotopes
- Atomic Number, Mass Number, and Neutral Atoms
- Isotopes and Ion Formation
- Early Atomic Models
- The Nuclear Model
- Refining the Model: Bohr and Chadwick
- The Structure of the Atom
- Electron Arrangement and Energy Levels
Atoms and nuclear radiation
- Radioactive Contamination and Irradiation
- Safety Precautions and Peer Review
- Understanding Half-Life
- Half-Life Calculations (HT)
- Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Neutrons
- Radioactive Decay: Stability and Activity
- Applications and Choosing Radiation Sources
- Understanding Nuclear Equations
Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation (physics only)
- Nuclear Radiation in Medicine
- Evaluating Risks of Nuclear Radiation
- Half-Lives and Hazards of Radioactive Isotopes
- Sources of Background Radiation
- Radiation Dose and Measurement
Nuclear fission and fusion (physics only)
More in this course
Go back to the full GCSE AQA Higher Physics topic list, or practise this topic with past-paper questions.
Frequently asked questions
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These notes are for GCSE AQA Higher Physics. If you are on a different exam board or tier, choose your course from the Physics page instead, because the content is not always the same.
What should I do after reading the lessons?
Test yourself without the notes open, then try past-paper questions on the same topic. The questions you get wrong tell you which lesson to go back to.