12. Quantum and nuclear physics
12. Quantum and nuclear physics
12.1 – The interaction of matter with radiation
Nature of science:
Observations: Much of the work towards a quantum theory of atoms was guided by the need to explain the observed patterns in atomic spectra. The first quantum model of matter is the Bohr model for hydrogen. Paradigm shift: The acceptance of the wave–particle duality paradox for light and particles required scientists in many fields to view research from new perspectives.
Understandings:
Photons
The photoelectric effect
Matter waves
Pair production and pair annihilation
Quantization of angular momentum in the Bohr model for hydrogen
The wave function
The uncertainty principle for energy and time and position and momentum
Tunnelling, potential barrier and factors affecting tunnelling probability
Applications and skills:
Discussing the photoelectric effect experiment and explaining which features of the experiment cannot be explained by the classical wave theory of light
Solving photoelectric problems both graphically and algebraically
Discussing experimental evidence for matter waves, including an experiment in which the wave nature of electrons is evident
Stating order of magnitude estimates from the uncertainty principle
12.2 – Nuclear physics
Nature of science:
Theoretical advances and inspiration: Progress in atomic, nuclear and particle physics often came from theoretical advances and strokes of inspiration. Advances in instrumentation: New ways of detecting subatomic particles due to advances in electronic technology were also crucial. Modern computing power: Finally, the analysis of the data gathered in modern particle detectors in particle accelerator experiments would be impossible without modern computing power.
Understandings:
Rutherford scattering and nuclear radius
Nuclear energy levels
The neutrino
The law of radioactive decay and the decay constant
Applications and skills:
Describing a scattering experiment including location of minimum intensity for the diffracted particles based on their de Broglie wavelength
Explaining deviations from Rutherford scattering in high energy experiments
Describing experimental evidence for nuclear energy levels
Solving problems involving the radioactive decay law for arbitrary time intervals
Explaining the methods for measuring short and long half-lives
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