Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment: Peering into the Nucleus

Rutherford's experiment involved alpha particles passing through a gold foil to study atomic structure. Most particles passed through with little deflection, indicating atoms are mostly empty space. Some particles deflected at large angles, suggesting a concentrated positive charge at the center, termed the nucleus. A few particles bounced back, confirming the nucleus's rigidity and mass. This experiment refuted Thompson's model and led to the nuclear model of the atom.

What was the purpose of the zinc sulfide screen in Rutherford's experiment?

• To absorb alpha particles

• To emit alpha particles

• To deflect alpha particles

• To detect scintillations caused by alpha particles

According to Thompson's model, how were alpha particles expected to behave when passing through the gold foil?

• They would bounce back

• They would be deflected at large angles

• They would pass through with no or slight deflections

• They would be completely absorbed

What did Rutherford conclude from the observation that most alpha particles passed through the gold foil without deflection?

• Atoms have a negative core

• Atoms are made of neutrons

• Atoms are solid throughout

• Atoms are mostly empty space

What did Rutherford infer from the deflection of alpha particles at large angles?

• Atoms have no internal structure

• Atoms are neutral

• Atoms are negatively charged

• Atoms have a dense, positively charged nucleus

How did Rutherford's experiment challenge Thompson's watermelon model of the atom?

• It demonstrated that positive charge is concentrated in a nucleus

• It showed that atoms are indivisible

• It confirmed that atoms are solid spheres

• It proved that atoms are made of electrons

What was the estimated size of the nucleus according to Rutherford?

• 10 to the power of -10 meters

• 10 to the power of -18 meters

• 10 to the power of -12 meters

• 10 to the power of -15 meters

What was the significance of the observation that only a few alpha particles bounced back at 180°?

• It suggested that the nucleus is very small and dense

• It indicated that atoms are mostly empty

• It proved that atoms are made of neutrons

• It showed that atoms are negatively charged