In the Rutherford scattering experiment, a beam of alpha particles was fired at a thin...
In the Rutherford scattering experiment, a beam of alpha particles was fired at a thin gold film and few of the particles were deflected considerably. This shows that the nucleus of an atom
- A. is positively charged and is concentrated in a tiny volume
- B. contains protons and electrons distributed in a tiny volume.
- C. is concentrated in a tiny volume and contains alpha particles.
- D. is distributed in a tiny volume and emits alpha particles.
Correct Answer: A. is positively charged and is concentrated in a tiny volume
Explanation
In the experiment, when alpha particles were fired at a thin gold foil, most of the alpha particles passed straight through, but a few were deflected considerably. This result led Rutherford to conclude that the positive charge of the atom is concentrated in a small, dense nucleus at the center of the atom. The fact that some alpha particles were deflected strongly indicated that there was a positively charged nucleus within the atom. This experiment was crucial in developing our understanding of atomic structure and led to the model of the atom with a central nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons.