IP Physics Notes (Upper Secondary, Year 3-4): 17) Radioactivity
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)30 Sep 2025, 00:00 Z
Reviewed by
Chee Wei Jie·Academic Advisor (Physics)
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Q: What does IP Physics Notes (Upper Secondary, Year 3-4): 17) Radioactivity cover?
A: Trace nuclear structure, alpha/beta/gamma emissions, half-life maths, and safety protocols for IP nuclear physics.
Quick recap -- Unstable nuclei shed energy by emitting alpha, beta, or gamma radiation. Identify the emission, update the nuclide notation, and use half-life reasoning to track activity changes.
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These notes align with SEAB GCE O-Level Physics (6091) content used in IP programmes (exams from 2026).
Status: SEAB O-Level Physics 6091 syllabus (exams from 2026) checked 2025-11-30 - scope unchanged; remains the reference for these notes.
Rutherford Scattering Recap
- Most alpha particles passed straight through gold foil -> atoms mostly empty space.
- Some deflected at large angles -> positive charge concentrated in tiny nucleus.
- A few rebounded -> nucleus is dense and carries most mass.
- Led to nuclear model: central nucleus (protons + neutrons) with orbiting electrons.
Nuclear Notation & Isotopes
- Nuclide represented as where
