Nucle — Syllabus
Madhya Pradesh Board · Class 12 · Physics
What Nucle covers in Madhya Pradesh Board Class 12 Physics: 4 topics, for the 2026-27 session. Part of the Madhya Pradesh Board Class 12 Physics syllabus.
Interactive on Super Tutor
Studying Nucle? Get the full interactive chapter.
Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan — built for syllabus and more.
Free trial, no card needed.

One of 15 illustrations for Nucle in Super Tutor — alongside flashcards, concept maps and practice questions.
Topics in Nucle
1. Basic structure of the nucleus
- An atom has a small, dense, positively charged nucleus at its centre.
- The radius of a nucleus is about 10^4 times smaller than the radius of an atom.
- The volume of a nucleus is about 10^-12 times the volume of the atom.
2. Atomic masses, isotopes, isobars, and isotones
- Atomic masses are measured in atomic mass unit, u, because kilogram is too large for atomic-scale masses.
- 1 u is defined as 1/12 of the mass of one 12C atom.
- Atomic masses of many elements are close to integral multiples of hydrogen mass, but chlorine is a notable exception with atomic mass 35.46 u.
3. Discovery of neutron and neutron properties
- James Chadwick verified the existence of the neutron in 1932 by bombarding beryllium nuclei with alpha-particles.
- Chadwick was awarded the 1935 Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of the neutron.
- A free neutron is unstable and decays into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino.
4. Nuclear size and density
- Rutherford established the existence of the atomic nucleus through alpha-particle scattering.
- Geiger and Marsden performed the classic alpha-particle scattering experiment on thin gold foils.
- For a 5.5 MeV alpha particle, the distance of closest approach to gold nucleus is about 4.0 × 10^-14 m.
Key Concepts
Central concept: Nucleus, nuclear properties, and nuclear phenomena
Work through every topic in Nucle with notes and quizzes
Start This ChapterFrequently Asked Questions
What are the important topics in Nucle for Madhya Pradesh Board Class 12 Physics?
How should I revise Nucle for the Madhya Pradesh Board Class 12 board exam?
Sources & Official References
Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.
More resources for Nucle
Practice Quiz
Test yourself with a quick quiz
Important Questions
Exam-style questions with answers
Revision Notes
Key points for last-minute revision
Formula Sheet
The chapter's formulas in one place
Chapter Summary
Understand the chapter at a glance
Concept Maps
See how topics connect
Study Plan
Step-by-step plan for this chapter
Flashcards
Quick-fire cards for active recall
NCERT Solutions
Every textbook question solved step by step
For serious students
Get the full Nucle chapter — start free.
Quizzes, flashcards, an AI doubt solver and a study plan for Madhya Pradesh Board Class 12 Physics. Free to start, no card needed.