Nuclear radii can be estimated using scattering experiments with high-energy electrons or alpha particles.
High-energy electron diffraction and alpha-particle scattering are two experimental methods used to investigate nuclear size.
Explain two reasons why high-energy electron scattering provides a more accurate and reliable estimate of the nuclear radius than alpha-particle scattering.
The radius RRR of a nucleus is related to its nucleon number AAA by the equation:
R=R0A13 R = R_0 A^{\frac{1}{3}} R=R0A31where R0R_0R0 is a constant.
(i) Show that this equation is consistent with the idea that all nuclei have the same density.
(ii) Suggest one reason why the constant density of nuclear material derived from this equation is only an approximation.
A precise measurement of the nuclear radius of a nickel isotope, 2864Ni^{64}_{28}\text{Ni}2864Ni, yields a value of 4.85×10−15 m4.85 \times 10^{-15}\text{ m}4.85×10−15 m.
Calculate an estimate of:
(Assume the mass of a nucleon is 1.67×10−27 kg1.67 \times 10^{-27}\text{ kg}1.67×10−27 kg.)
128 exam-style questions on AQA A Level Physics Radioactivity (A-level only), covering Rutherford scattering (A-level only), $\alpha$ , $\beta$ and $\gamma$ radiation (A-level only), Radioactive decay (A-level only), Nuclear instability (A-level only), Nuclear radius (A-level only), Mass and energy (A-level only), Induced fission (A-level only), and Safety aspects (A-level only). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.