Question

5. Rutherford scattered a parallel beam of α particles with fixed kinetic energy from a gold foil and compared the distribution to that expected from pure Coulomb scattering. What did he observe and what was he able to conclude from his data?

Answer 1

In the Rutherford alpha particle experiment, following observations were made

* most of the alpha particles goes through with least deviation through the gold foil

* A few Particles are found be deviated with great angles from their path.

* Very few particles are found to deflect back.

Based on above observations, it was concluded that, the entire positive charge of the atom is in a very tiny place called nucleus, that's why only few alpha particle which gets chance to hit directly to the nucleus are deflected back.

Most of the space of atom is empty, that's why most of the alpha particles goes with least deflection.