Home › IB Diploma Physics › Chapter 20
IB Diploma · Physics · Chapter 20
Ch 20 E.1 Structure of the atom: complete notes
Neat, exam-ready notebook-style notes for Ch 20 E.1 Structure of the atom, following the IB Diploma syllabus, SL and HL. This chapter is part of the complete Physics Notes for IB Diploma Students (SL and HL): All 24 Topics.
Test yourself: Chapter 20 online MCQ test, free: 10 questions, 15 minutes, instant score and solutions →
Free preview: Ch 20 E.1 Structure of the atom notes
A quick look at the chapter from our IB Diploma Physics notes. The full chapter notes have the detailed explanations, diagrams and practice questions with answers.
Topics in this chapter
- What you must be able to do
- The Geiger–Marsden–Rutherford experiment
- Nuclear notation
- Nuclear radius and density
- Energy levels, photons and spectra
- Emission and absorption spectra
- The Bohr model of hydrogen
- Distance of closest approach
- Deviations from Rutherford scattering at high energy
“I can” checklist: what you must be able to do
- I can describe the alpha-scattering experiment and explain what each observation shows about the atom.
- I can use nuclear notation to find protons, neutrons and electrons, and define isotopes.
- I can explain how line spectra provide evidence for discrete energy levels and how they reveal chemical composition.
- I can calculate the frequency and wavelength of a photon from an energy-level transition.
- HL: I can use \(R=R_0A^{1/3}\) and explain why all nuclei have the same density.
- HL: I can find the distance of closest approach by energy conservation and explain deviations at high energy.
- HL: I can use the Bohr model equations for hydrogen and state their limits.
What is inside the full chapter notes
- Concept notes with 8 worked examples
- Figures: scattering paths, energy levels, spectra, closest approach
- Common mistakes; investigation (IA) ideas
- 15 Paper 1A-style MCQs, explained
- 3 Paper 2-style structured questions with mark schemes, plus a data-based question
- Quick-reference sheet and "I can" checklist
What you get in the pack
- All 24 topics of IB Diploma Physics for students taking Standard Level or Higher Level (first assessment 2025): kinematics, forces and momentum, work, energy and power, rigid body mechanics, special relativity, thermal energy transfers, the greenhouse effect, gas laws, thermodynamics, current and circuits, simple harmonic motion, the wave model, wave phenomena, standing waves, the Doppler effect, gravitational, electric and magnetic fields, induction, atomic structure, quantum physics, radioactive decay, fission, fusion and stars
- Every syllabus statement covered in order, each marked SL or HL, with clear notes, tables and diagrams drawn for these notes
- Worked examples in every topic: calculations and model answers that show how to earn the marks
- Original Paper 1A-style multiple-choice questions with explained answers, plus Paper 2-style structured and data-based questions with full mark schemes (no past-paper reprints)
- Common mistakes and investigation (internal assessment) ideas for every topic
- Quick-reference sheet and an "I can" checklist at the end of every topic
- Colour PDF and a black and white copy of every chapter for printing
- Independent notes for IB Diploma students; not endorsed by or affiliated with the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)
All chapters in this pack
- Ch 1 A.1 Kinematics
- Ch 2 A.2 Forces and momentum
- Ch 3 A.3 Work, energy and power
- Ch 4 A.4 Rigid body mechanics
- Ch 5 A.5 Galilean and special relativity
- Ch 6 B.1 Thermal energy transfers
- Ch 7 B.2 Greenhouse effect
- Ch 8 B.3 Gas laws
- Ch 9 B.4 Thermodynamics
- Ch 10 B.5 Current and circuits
- Ch 11 C.1 Simple harmonic motion
- Ch 12 C.2 Wave model
- Ch 13 C.3 Wave phenomena
- Ch 14 C.4 Standing waves and resonance
- Ch 15 C.5 Doppler effect
- Ch 16 D.1 Gravitational fields
- Ch 17 D.2 Electric and magnetic fields
- Ch 18 D.3 Motion in electromagnetic fields
- Ch 19 D.4 Induction
- Ch 20 E.1 Structure of the atom
- Ch 21 E.2 Quantum physics
- Ch 22 E.3 Radioactive decay
- Ch 23 E.4 Fission
- Ch 24 E.5 Fusion and stars