ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR

PHYSICS
Unit-13

Class: 10 M1
Instructor: Usama Shabbir

ATOMIC PHYSICS
Atomic physics is the field of physics that studies atoms as an isolated system
of electrons and an atomic nucleus.
It is primarily concerned with the

arrangement of electrons around the

nucleus and the processes by which
these arrangements change

NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the constituents of nucleus
(protons and neutrons) and interactions of atomic nuclei.

SUB ATOMIC PARTICLES

Proton: Protons are positively charged particles found inside the nucleus of
an atom.
Neutron: Neutrons are the other particle found in the nucleus of an atom.
Unlike protons and electrons,
Electron: Electrons are negatively charged particles that surround the
nucleus in orbits similar to moons orbiting a planet.

ATOMIC NUMBER, NEUTRON NUMBER AND

ATOMIC MASS NUMBER
Total number of protons in the nucleus is called the atomic number of the
atom and is given the symbol Z.
The number of neutrons in a nucleus is known as the neutron number and is
given the symbol N.
The total number of nucleons, that is, protons and neutrons in a nucleus, is
equal to Z + N = A, where A is called the atomic mass number

ISOTOPES
Atoms of an element having same atomic number but different mass
number is called isotopes
Or

Atoms of an element having same number of protons but different number

of neutrons
Example:

Hydrogen has three isotopes

Carbon has three isotopes

ISOTOPES CONT

NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY
Radioactivity defined as the spontaneous emission of particles or radiation or
both at the same time, by unstable nuclei. Those elements which emit these

radiations are known as radioactive elements.

Actually when isotopes are unstable they emit energy in the form of
radiation. There are three main types of radiation or radioactive decay

depending on the isotope.

(i) Alpha particles
(ii) Beta particles
(iii) Gamma rays

PROPERTIES
Assignment No. 1
Concepts of Alpha particles, Beta particles and Gamma rays
Properties of Alpha particles, Beta particles and Gamma particles

BACKGROUND RADIATIONS &

COSMIC RADIATIONS
Radiations present in the atmosphere due to

different radioactive

substances are called background radiations

The earth and all living things receive radiations from outer space, those
radiations are called cosmic radiations

NUCLEAR TRANSMUTATIONS
The spontaneous process in which a parent unstable nuclide changes into a
more stable daughter nuclide with the emission of radiations is called
nuclear transmutations.