Alpha particle scattering experiments led Rutherford to propose the nuclear model of the atom - Edexcel - A-Level Physics - Question 4 - 2023 - Paper 3
Question 4
Alpha particle scattering experiments led Rutherford to propose the nuclear model of the atom. Alpha particles were directed towards a thin gold foil.
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Worked Solution & Example Answer:Alpha particle scattering experiments led Rutherford to propose the nuclear model of the atom - Edexcel - A-Level Physics - Question 4 - 2023 - Paper 3
Step 1
Most of the particles are not deflected as they pass through the gold foil.
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Answer
Rutherford observed that the majority of alpha particles passed straight through the gold foil without any deflection. This indicates that most of the atom is mostly empty space, which is a key feature of the nuclear model.
Step 2
This indicates that there is mostly empty space inside the gold atom.
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Answer
The absence of significant deflection suggests that there is a vast region within the atom where electrons can be found, reinforcing the idea that the atom is largely empty aside from the nucleus.
Step 3
Some particles were deflected from their path by small angles.
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A small proportion of particles experienced slight deflections in their paths. This suggests that there are small concentrated regions of positive charge within the atom, supporting the existence of a nucleus.
Step 4
This indicates a charged center (verse deflecting alpha particles).
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The deflections indicate that there is a positively charged center in the atom, which is consistent with the presence of protons concentrated in the nucleus.
Step 5
A very small proportion of particles were deflected through more than 90 degrees.
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The fact that a few alpha particles were deflected at high angles implies the presence of a dense region of mass, further validating the idea of a concentrated nucleus.
Step 6
This indicates that most of the mass of the atom is concentrated in the nucleus.
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The significant deflection of some particles implies that the nucleus contains most of the atom's mass, as the intensity of the collision is related to how much mass is in that area, validating Rutherford’s nuclear model.
