Discovery Of The Nucleas

Question 1

Describe the apparatus of the alpha scattering experiment:

Answer 1

Question 2

Why did most of the alpha particles pass straight through the gold foil?

Answer 2

Because most of the atom is empty space

Question 3

Why did some alpha particles deflect back towards the alpha source?

Answer 3

Because as there is a concentration of positive charge in the nucleas (which is very small), the positive alpha particles were being repelled by the positive charges

Question 4

Why was the alpha source enclosed on a sheild with very narrow opening?

Answer 4

So the particles would only travel in one direction

Question 5

Why was the glass vessel (metal box) enclosing the alpha source and the gold foil evacuated?

Answer 5

So the air particles don’t impact the results

Question 6

Why was zinc sulfide used?

Answer 6

To produce a flash when an alpha particle reflects from it

Question 7

If foils with a greater amount of protons was used, how it impact the results?

Answer 7

There would be more scattering of alpha particles as there would be more repulsion of positive charges.