Here's a mind-bending fact: atoms are 99.9999999999999% empty space! If a nucleus were the size of a marble in the centre of a football stadium, the electrons would be tiny specks orbiting in the outer stands. All the "solid" matter around you is almost entirely nothing. You can't fall through your chair because of electromagnetic repulsion between electrons, not because atoms are solid!
This introduction covers Mostly Empty Space within Atomic Structure for GCSE Physics. Revise Atomic Structure in Atomic Structure for GCSE Physics with 16 exam-style questions and 25 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 1 of 12 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Atomic Structure
What does the atomic number of an element tell you?
Describe the structure of an atom. Include the location and charge of the three main subatomic particles.
Quick recall flashcards
What are isotopes?
Isotopes are atoms of the same element (same number of protons) with different numbers of neutrons. This means they have the same atomic number but different mass numbers.
Why are atoms electrically neutral?
Atoms are electrically neutral because the number of protons (positive charges) equals the number of electrons (negative charges). The positive and negative charges cancel out.