Question

When alpha particles are sent through a thin gold foil, most of them go straight through the foil, because ______.

Options

• alpha particles are positively charged.

• the mass of an alpha particle is more than the mass of an electron.

• most of the part of an atom is empty space.

• alpha particles move with high velocity.

Answer 1

When alpha particles are sent through a thin gold foil, most of them go straight through the foil, because most of the part of an atom is empty space.

Explanation:

When we pass the alpha particle on gold foil in Rutherford's alpha scattering experiment, there are a few observations that are recorded as:

1. The majority of the particles are not deflected.
2. Some of the particles are bent at tiny angles.
3. Very few particles are deflected and returned by 180°.

As a result, we can deduce;

1. The majority of the space in Atom is empty.
2. A nucleus is a small location where a very small mass is concentrated.
3. The mass of an atom is concentrated in the core nucleus, leaving the rest vacant.
4. As a result, when positively charged alpha particles are delivered through metal foil, they pass straight through the foil.