Atoms and the Periodic Table

About the lecture

In this mini-lecture, with a look at the periodic table and it’s elements, as well as various models of the atom. As we move through this mini-lecture we discuss: (i) the Plum Pudding Model and the Nuclear Model of the atom, where through the Geiger and Marsden experiment we see that the Nuclear Model is the accurate model; (ii) the nucleus of an atom, which is made up of protons and neutrons; (iii) how the periodic table is organised and labeled; (iv) the importance of nucleons in keeping the nucleus intact through the nuclear force; (v) nuclear binding energy; and (vi) finally, nuclear fission and fusion.

About the lecturer

David Berman is a Professor of Theoretical Physics at Queen Mary. His research interests include string theory and ideas in fundamental theoretical physics, including non-commutative geometry, black holes physics, and quantum gravity. He has contributed to the Radio 4 biography series Great Lives and the In Our Time podcasts, including Great Lives: Richard Feynman (2018), Great Lives: Galileo (2019), In Our Time: Emmy Noether (2019), and In Our Time: Paul Dirac (2020).