18 Questions
What was the unexpected result of the α-particle scattering experiment?
Most of the fast-moving α-particles passed straight through the gold foil.
Why did Rutherford compare the result of the α-particle experiment to firing a 15-inch shell at tissue paper?
To highlight the unexpected nature of some α-particles rebounding.
What conclusion did Rutherford draw from the fact that most α-particles passed through the gold foil without getting deflected?
Most of the space inside the atom is empty.
Why was one out of every 12000 α-particles rebounding considered surprising?
Because it was unexpected based on classical physics predictions.
What did Rutherford's observation that very few particles were deflected indicate about the positive charge of the atom?
The positive charge occupies very little space within the atom.
In Rutherford's analogy, if a blind-folded child throws stones at a barbed-wire fence, why are most stones not heard striking the fence?
The stones pass through gaps in the wire without hitting it.
What did Rutherford's gold foil experiment indicate about the atom?
The positive charge and mass of the atom are concentrated in a small nucleus.
According to Rutherford's nuclear model of the atom, where is most of the mass of an atom located?
In the nucleus
Why is the nucleus of an atom considered very small compared to the size of the atom?
Because it contains all the positive charge and mass of the atom.
What is one drawback of Rutherford's model of the atom regarding the electron's motion?
Electrons are expected to accelerate and radiate energy.
What did Rutherford's experiment suggest about the size relationship between the nucleus and the atom?
The nucleus is much smaller than the atom.
What contribution did Rutherford make to our understanding of atomic structure?
Discovery of the nucleus with the gold foil experiment
Who proposed a model of an atom similar to that of a Christmas pudding?
J.J. Thomson
In Thomson's model of an atom, how were the electrons described?
Like currants in a Christmas pudding
Why did Ernest Rutherford select a gold foil for his experiment on atomic structure?
To observe the deflection of alpha particles by sub-atomic particles
What type of particles were used in Rutherford's experiment on atomic structure?
Alpha particles
How did J.J. Thomson describe the positive charge within an atom?
As studded all over like the red part of a watermelon
What was the role of J.J. Thomson's research assistants after his tenure at the Cavendish Laboratory?
All of them won Nobel prizes
This quiz covers the unexpected results of the α-particle scattering experiment, including observations of α-particles passing through, being deflected, and rebounding from a gold foil. Explore the significance of these findings in the context of atomic structure and discoveries in physics.
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