Atticus tells Scout that rape is "carnal knowledge of a female by force and without consent."
Given that she responds by saying "well, if that's all it is...," it's unlikely that Scout understands. Throughout much of the book, Scout sees the world in a very reductive way. Like most children, she forms opinions about people and things based on her experiences with them and tends to consider those feelings and experiences as though they are...
Atticus tells Scout that rape is "carnal knowledge of a female by force and without consent."
Given that she responds by saying "well, if that's all it is...," it's unlikely that Scout understands. Throughout much of the book, Scout sees the world in a very reductive way. Like most children, she forms opinions about people and things based on her experiences with them and tends to consider those feelings and experiences as though they are universal facts. Because she has yet to experience or witness violence or hatred firsthand, she simply doesn't understand that they really exist and can be a powerful influence on the shaping of a person's life. Moreover, as a child, it's unlikely that she knows what "carnal knowledge" is or why and how a person might try to take it by force.
As for whether Atticus intends for her to understand it, that is also unlikely. In answering her question, Atticus doesn't exactly explain rape; rather, he gives Scout a legal definition. This is perhaps why she doesn't seem to think it's a big deal, which he makes no effort to correct. Throughout the book, Lee makes it very clear that Atticus is a thoughtful man who makes every attempt to help the children learn and understand the world, often by providing explanations in a language they will understand. Had he actually wanted Scout to understand, he likely would have provided a deeper explanation of rape and not just given her the legal definition.
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