Question

Why is the nucleus treated as stationary during scattering?

Options

• Most of the space in the atom is empty.

• The detector is placed at specific angles.

• The nucleus is so much heavier than the alpha particle.

• The gold foil is thin.

Answer 1

Rutherford assumed that the nucleus remains stationary during scattering because it is so much heavier than the alpha particle. This assumption concerns the relative masses of the nucleus and the alpha particle.