Page 10 - Big Ideas Year 10 sciPAD 2025
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10 SCIPAD - BIG IDEAS - BOOK 2
NATURE OF THE ATOM
Atoms
Everything is made from atoms, including you. Atoms are tiny particles that are far too small to see,
even with a microscope. If people were the same size as atoms, the entire population of the world
could stand on the tip of a pin!
Atoms are made up of 3 main types of particles: electrons, protons and neutrons. Each of these
particles have different properties.
The nucleus is at the centre of the atom and contains the protons and neutrons. Virtually all the
mass of the atom is concentrated in the nucleus, because the electrons have very little mass.
Relative mass Relative charge
Proton 1 +1
Neutron 1 0
Electron 1/2000 -1
1. Using your own words, describe an atom.
2. Name the three particles found inside atoms.
3. Which of the three particles is the smallest?
4. State the name given to the centre of the atom.
5. Name the two particles that are found in the centre of an atom.
6. State the electrical charge of a: Proton
Neutron
Electron
7. State the relative mass of a: Proton
Neutron
Electron
Electrons are tiny particles that have
a negative electrical charge (-). They
surround the centre (nucleus) of the
atom.
Protons are much larger and
heavier than electrons and have
the opposite charge. They have
a positive electrical charge (+).
Neutrons have a similar size and
mass to protons. Neutrons have no
electrical charge (0).
6
12.0
Carbon
Carbon is element 6 on the
periodic table. One atom of
carbon consists of 6 protons,
6 neutrons and 6 electrons.
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