16 Questions
What was the purpose of using a beam of small positively charged particles (α-particles) in the experiment?
To observe the scattering of the α-particles by the gold foil
Why did Rutherford use a special coating of zinc sulphide on the photographic plate?
To make it easier to see where the α-particles went after hitting the gold foil
What conclusion did Rutherford draw from the observation that few α-particles bounced back in the direction from which they had come?
The nucleus contains all the mass of an atom
Why did almost all of the particles penetrate the foil either undeflected or with only a slight deflection?
Most of the space in an atom is empty so the particles could pass through
What does the scattering of α-particles at a large angle suggest about the structure of an atom?
Positive charged are concentrated at the center, nucleus
Why did Rutherford conclude that whenever an α-particle came close to the nucleus, it experienced a large repulsive force and therefore a large deflection?
Due to electrostatic attraction between α-particle and nucleus
According to Rutherford's atomic model, what is the nucleus of an atom primarily composed of?
Protons and a neutral species
What phenomenon could not be explained by Rutherford's atomic model?
The stability of the atom
What is the term used to describe a set of colors into which a beam of light can be separated?
Continuous spectrum
Which type of spectrum is defined as containing breaks or gaps in terms of the wavelengths included?
Line spectrum
What does the emission of electromagnetic radiations by atoms result in?
Line spectrum
Why could Rutherford's atomic model not explain the line spectra of hydrogen and its discontinuous spectrum nature?
It could not explain the continuous loss of energy by moving electrons
Why is the nucleus of an atom surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged constituents?
To maintain electrical neutrality
What holds together the negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons in an atom according to Rutherford's atomic model?
Electromagnetic force
What is defined as a spectrum between a range of wavelengths that contains breaks or gaps?
"Line" spectrum
What phenomenon could not be explained by Rutherford's atomic model?
The stability of the atom
Test your knowledge about Rutherford's famous alpha particle scattering experiment, which played a crucial role in the discovery of the atomic nucleus. Learn about the experimental setup, observations, and the significance of the findings.
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