Physics 1090 Unit 9: Nuclei and Atoms

Unit Objectives

• Classify atomic nuclei according to element and isotope number.
• Given a parent nucleus and decay mechanism, determine the daughter nucleus.
• Describe the principles and interactions responsible for atomic structure.

Class Stuff

• Reading guide covering Chemistry Chapters 1 and 2
• Homework questions for the unit
• PowerPoint presentation on nuclei
• PowerPoint presentation on orbitals

Resources

About Radioactivity

• Thorough exposition from the Stanford Linear Accelerator’s Virtual Visitor Center
• Concise description of the three main types of decay from Thinkquest’s Nuclear physics site
• Awesome radioactivity education site from Andy Darvill, a British science teacher

About the Uncertainty Principle

• Wave packet explorer from Kansas State’s Visual Quantum mechanics
• Less interactive uncertainty applet from Seven Stones

About Elements, Atoms, and the Periodic Table

• How Atoms Work from Howstuffworks.com
• Teacher Resources from Jefferson Laboratory
• Lame pictures of atomic orbitals
• Atomic structure from Hyperphysics (advanced)
• Online Atoms Jeopardy game
• Very cool periodic table from Los Alamos National Lab
• Visual Elements periodic table from the Royal Society of Chemistry
• Web Elements periodic table
• Table of the isotopes from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Electron Configutations applet from John Gelder at Oklahoma State
• The Periodic Table of Videos (about the elements) from the University of Nottinghan