Lesson 6.4.1.3

6.4.1.3 The development of the model of the atom (common content with chemistry) Quiz: AQA Combined Science, Unit 21

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 6.4.1.3, The development of the model of the atom (common content with chemistry): 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Combined Science (8464), Unit 21: Atomic structure, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. How did the plum pudding model describe the atom?

    • Positive sphere with electrons
    • Dense central nucleus
    • Hard indivisible sphere
    • Empty space with orbits

  2. The discovery of the electron led to which model of the atom?

    • Plum pudding model
    • Solid sphere model
    • Bohr model
    • Nuclear model

  3. Which experiment proved that the atom has a tiny, dense nucleus?

    • Gold foil electrolysis
    • Oil drop experiment
    • Cathode ray deflection
    • Alpha particle scattering

  4. The nuclear model replaced which earlier model?

    • Electron cloud model
    • Plum pudding model
    • Bohr model
    • Solid sphere model

  5. What did Niels Bohr's nuclear model suggest about electrons?

    • Stationary inside nucleus
    • Absorbed continuously
    • Randomly scattered in sphere
    • Orbit at specific distances

  6. What is the name of the positively charged particle in a nucleus?

    • Neutron
    • Electron
    • Proton
    • Alpha particle

  7. Whose experimental work provided evidence for the existence of neutrons?

    • J.J. Thomson
    • James Chadwick
    • Niels Bohr
    • Ernest Rutherford

  8. How were atoms viewed before the discovery of the electron?

    • Positive pudding spheres
    • Indivisible tiny spheres
    • Energy wave packets
    • Nuclear systems

  9. How long after the nucleus was accepted did evidence for neutrons appear?

    • About 2 years
    • About 200 years
    • About 5 years
    • About 20 years

  10. What feature of the atom is shown by alpha particle deflection?

    • Negative outer shell
    • Evenly spread mass
    • Uniform positive sphere
    • Dense central positive charge

  11. How is positive charge distributed in the plum pudding model of the atom?

    • Spread throughout
    • Confined to edges
    • Orbiting the centre
    • Concentrated in nucleus

  12. Why do scientific models like the atomic model change over time?

    • New experimental evidence
    • Elements permanently decay
    • Calculations get simpler
    • Scientist opinions shift

  13. Why did the plum pudding model fail to explain alpha particle scattering?

    • High orbital speed
    • Spread-out positive charge
    • Negative electron mass
    • Neutral core charge

  14. Which result did the theoretical calculations of Bohr agree with?

    • Experimental observations
    • Mathematical theory
    • Plum pudding predictions
    • Quantum estimates

  15. How do scientific theories tend to develop over time?

    • Random guessing methods
    • Constant unchanging facts
    • Evidence changes models
    • Mathematical proofs

  16. What charge does each proton carry?

    • Equal positive charge
    • Varying positive charge
    • Zero net charge
    • Equal negative charge

  17. What did the discovery of the electron prove about atomic structure?

    • Atoms are divisible
    • Atoms are neutral
    • Atoms have a nucleus
    • Atoms are solid spheres

  18. Which atomic model came first chronologically in history?

    • Plum pudding
    • Nuclear model
    • Bohr model
    • Solid sphere

  19. What is required regarding Chadwick's experimental work for this specification?

    • Isotope mass values
    • Full scattering data
    • Details not required
    • Alpha source types

  20. What is a key feature of the nuclear model compared to plum pudding?

    • Embedded electrons only
    • Central nucleus
    • Solid indivisible sphere
    • Uniform positive charge

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