GCSE AQA Physics - P7.3 . Atoms and changes in the nucleus (Nuclear Radiation)

A complete and detailed lesson on Radioactivity, focusing on atomic structure, alpha particles, beta particles and gamma radiation. (created with AQA specification content).

Lesson Objectives:
- Recall and detail the basic structure of an atom.
- Relate number of protons, electrons and neutrons to mass and atomic numbers.
- Explain how atoms form ions & identify the isotopes of different elements.
- Explain radioactivity in terms of alpha, beta and gamma radiation.

The lesson guides pupils very clearly through exactly what radioactivity is by starting with the atom and so isotopes.

Starter prompts pupils to find the key words for the lesson using a ‘say what you see’ game.
Following a review of the atoms structure and properties through questioning. A task exploring the periodic table using relative atomic mass and atomic number familiarises pupils with these as they are important later.

Ions are reviewed through a task using visuals of atoms/ions to identify ions or atoms with appropriate charge. This then leads onto explaining what isotopes which can then be linked to unstable elements.

Radioactivity is then explained through a basic description relating to like charges of protons in the nucleus and the required binding energy to hold the nucleus together.

Alpha, Beta and Gamma are then reviewed with visuals of the process to relate to pupils clearly what happens.

A literacy task summarises and reviews the lesson.