Question

3. a) What is the significance that some of the alpha particles were strongly back-scattered in the Rutherford scattering experiment? b) Describe the model of the atom Rutherford deduced from his experiment. c) What problem did a classical interpretation of this model present?

Answer 1

3 a) alpha particles were found at large deflection angles and some were even found to be back-scattered. this signifies that positive matter in atoms was concentrated in an incredibly small volume Most alpha particles were observed to pass straight through the gold foil, which implied that atoms are composed of large amounts of open space. Some alpha particles were deflected slightly, suggesting interactions with other charged particles within the atom. This signifies that there are charged particles in the atom around central charge

b) Rutherford model described the atom as a tiny, dense, positively charged core called a nucleus, in which nearly all the mass is concentrated, around which the light, negative constituents, called electrons, revolve

c) the problem this model presented is :

According to Rutherford’s model of an atom, electrons revolve around the nucleus as planets But, electrons revolving in circular orbits will not be stable they will lose energy in the form of radiation arid fall into the nucleus and finally collapse