Mississippi Science PHY.6.2

ScienceGrades 9–12Physics

The Standard

PHY.6: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of nuclear energy.

Explore the mass number and atomic number of the nucleus of an isotope of a given chemical element.

2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Nuclear Energy

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use an element's atomic number to find the number of protons in its nucleus. They subtract that number from an isotope's mass number to find its neutrons.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given carbon-14 and carbon's atomic number of 6, a student finds 6 protons and 8 neutrons. They can explain why carbon-12 is also carbon, even though it has only 6 neutrons.
Common Misconceptions: Students may mistake the mass number for the neutron count. Some include electrons in the mass number or think two isotopes of the same element have different numbers of protons.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Carbon has atomic number 6. For carbon-12 and carbon-14, give the proton and neutron counts, then explain why both are carbon.

Lesson moves

Build carbon-12 with six red proton counters and six blue neutron counters, then add two neutrons and label both nuclei.
Ask students to write two sentences explaining why carbon-12 and carbon-14 are both carbon despite their different mass numbers.
Using a periodic table, match carbon-12, carbon-14, and nitrogen-14 cards to proton and neutron count cards.
Show a museum card about carbon-14 dating of an old wood beam, then have students calculate carbon-14's protons and neutrons.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to PHY.6.2, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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