Lesson: Atomic Structure Physics

Students will be able to

• understand that atoms consist of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons and surrounded by electrons,
• know that the nucleus has a positive electric charge because protons have a positive electric charge,
• know that electrons have a negative electric charge,
• know that neutrons have no electric charge,
• know that most of the mass of the atom comes from the nucleus,
• know what the relative charge of the proton, neutron, and electron is,
• know that for an electrically neutral atom, the number of electrons that the atom has is equal to the number of protons,
• work out, given the relative charge of an atom, how many electrons it has given the number of protons,
• work out, given the relative charge of an atom, how many protons must be in the nucleus given the number of electrons,
• work out the relative charge of an atom given the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons,
• know that most of the atom is empty space.