Physics IGCSE Specification Checklist

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?: RADIOACTIVITY

Fact

Checklist

I know the location, relative charges and masses of the proton, electron and neutron

 

I can define the atomic number, mass number, and isotopes

 

 

I know what alpha, beta and gamma particles are

 

 

I know the penetrating power of the different types of radiation, and what materials can stop them

 

I know that alpha emission causes the mass number of a nucleus to decrease by four, and the atomic number by two

 

I know that beta emission causes the atomic number of a nucleus to increase by one, but the mass number doesn’t change

 

I can write nuclear equations

 

 

I know that radiation causes ionization, and the order of ionizing ability

 

I know the different sources of background radiation 

 

 

I know radiation can be detected by a GM tube or using photographic paper

 

I understand what is meant by the terms activity and Becquerel

 

 

I know the definition of half-life as the average time taken for half the nuclei in a sample to decay

 

I can find the half-life from a graph

 

 

I can do half-life calculations

 

 

I know how radioactivity is used as a tracer, in archaeological dating and in radiotherapy

 

I know ionizing radiation can cause mutations and damage to cells/tissue

 

I know the problems of disposing of nuclear waste

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?: PARTICLES

Fact

Checklist

I can describe the Geiger-Marsden experiment, and the function of all the equipment involved

 

I can describe the results of the Geiger-Marsden experiment

 

 

I understand that most of the radiation was undeflected because the atom was mainly empty space

 

I understand why there must be a highly dense, positively charged nucleus from Rutherford’s results

 

I understand the effect of increasing alpha particles speed on the deflection

 

I understand the effect of changing charge on the alpha rays deflection

 

I understand the terms fusion and fission

 

 

I know that uranium-235 undergoes fission when it is hit by a slow moving neutron

 

I understand the role of moderator in the power plant being to slow down neutrons

 

I understand the role of the boron control rods being to absorb neutrons

 

I understand that the energy released from fission, is initially found in the kinetic energy of the products

 

I understand that this energy heats up the water, creating steam

 

 

I understand that the steam moves the turbine, creating electricity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?: ELECTRICITY

Fact

Checklist

I understand when a series and when a parallel circuit are useful, for example in domestic lighting

 

Understand that current in a series circuit is dependent on the voltage and the components in the circuit

 

I know what the current-voltage…