4- The Nuclear Atom Flashcards
dispersion
Newton discovered a rainbow-colored band, aka “spectrum”
three general kinds of spectra
continuous
band
line
continuous spectra
emitted mainly by incandescent solids
show no lines at all
band spectra
very closely packed groups of lines that appear to be continuous in instruments of low-resolving power.
small solids placed in source flame / electrode
line spectra
arise from unbounded chemical elements
characteristic of individual elements or chemical compounds when excited under specific conditions
theoretical problem arising out of line spectra
classical physics could account for the existence of a continuous spectrum
classical physics could not explain why sharp lines and bands should exist
Balmer series
n ≥ 3 to n=2
Lyamn Series
n ≥ 2 to n=1
Paschen Series
n ≥ 4 to n=3
Rutherford and students (Geiger and Marsden)
- radiation from uranium consisted of at least 2 types, α and β
- suspected α must be doubly-ionized helium since q/m for α was half that of a p+
Rutherford atomic model experiment
let a radioactive substance, α, decay in a previously evacuated chamber; then, by spectroscopy, they detected the spectral lines of ordinary helium gas in the chamber.
used α to “feel about” within the interiors of other atoms.
Rutherford atomic model experiment interesting results
when a beam of α particles fell on a zinc sulfide screen (foil), visible light scintillations were observed.
most α particles went undeflected or deflected through small angles about 1°
unexpectedly, a few particles were deflected through angles as large as 90°
implications of the Rutherford atomic model experiment
If an atom consisted of a positively charged sphere of radius 1e-10, containing electrons as in the Thomson model, only a very small deflection would result from a single encounter.
Positive charge must be “concentrated” in the atom, with volume much smaller than entire atom.
why Rutherford results in conflict with the Thompson experiment…
Thomson atom is too soft–the maximum force experienced by the α is too weak to give a large deflection.
assumptions made for Rutherford scattering geometry equatin
final speed = initial speed
(through conservation of energy and the fact that potential = 0 after “collision’)
massive nucleus remains fixed during scatterng
smaller impact parameter (b) leads to a larger…
…scattering angle.
in Rutherfords experiment the nucleus is assumed to be a mathematical point charge. how is this different from reality?
as long as the particle did not penetrate the nucleus we can treat the nucleus as a point charge, mathematically.
to reduce the distance of closest approach, Rutherford…
did not have access to higher-energy α particles.
instead, used targets of smaller atomic numbers, then reduced the α particle’s KE by passing them through thin mica sheets of various thicknesses.