NESA Physics Structure of the Atom
3 sample questions with marking guides and sample answers · Avg. score: 93.9%
Consider the following statement.
"The interaction of subatomic particles with fields, as well as with other types of particles and matter, has increased our understanding of processes that occur in the physical world and of the properties of the subatomic particles themselves."
Justify this statement with reference to observations that have been made and experiments that scientists have carried out.
Reveal Answer
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Provides a reasoned detailed justification for the statement with explanation referencing at least TWO observations and at least TWO experiments | 9 |
Provides a justification for the statement with explanation referencing at least TWO observations and at least TWO experiments | 8 |
The student response meets all criteria of the 6-mark band, and additionally meets the majority of criteria in the 8-mark band. | 7 |
Provides a justification for the statement with an explanation of an observation/experiment of particle–field interactions and an observation/experiment of particle–particle interactions | 6 |
The student response meets all criteria of the 4-mark band, and additionally meets the majority of criteria in the 6-mark band. | 5 |
Provides details of TWO experiments or observations and how they relate to the statement | 4 |
The student response meets all criteria of the 2-mark band, and additionally meets the majority of criteria in the 4-mark band. | 3 |
| 2 |
Provides some relevant information | 1 |
None of the above | 0 |
The Rutherford atomic model describes an atom
as the smallest particle of any substance.
with a small, dense nucleus surrounded by orbiting electrons.
consisting of electrons scattered throughout a sphere of positively charged fluid.
consisting of a small positive nucleus surrounded by negative electrons in set orbits of fixed energy.
Reveal Answer
as the smallest particle of any substance.
This describes John Dalton's early atomic theory, which viewed atoms as indivisible spheres, rather than Rutherford's model which proposed internal structure.
with a small, dense nucleus surrounded by orbiting electrons.
Rutherford proposed the nuclear model of the atom, where a tiny, dense, positively charged nucleus is surrounded by electrons, similar to planets orbiting the sun.
consisting of electrons scattered throughout a sphere of positively charged fluid.
This describes J.J. Thomson's "Plum Pudding" model, which Rutherford disproved with his gold foil experiment.
consisting of a small positive nucleus surrounded by negative electrons in set orbits of fixed energy.
This describes the Bohr model, which improved upon Rutherford's model by proposing that electrons travel in specific, quantized orbits with fixed energy levels.
Experiments have been carried out by scientists to investigate cathode rays.
Assess the contribution of the results of these experiments in developing an understanding of the existence and properties of electrons.
Reveal Answer
Experimental results and their interpretation have played an essential role in developing and understanding of both the existence and properties of electrons.
It was demonstrated that cathode rays could be deflected by an electric field in a manner consistent with negatively charged particles. This experiment also allowed the deduction that the cathode rays were not electromagnetic waves because the latter would not be deflected by an electric field.
The combined effect of changing the magnitudes of electric and magnetic fields through which the electrons passed was measured and from this the charge-to-mass ratio of the electron was calculated.
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
| 5 |
| 4 |
| 3 |
| 2 |
Provides some relevant information | 1 |
None of the above | 0 |