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The Rutherford scattering experiments were a landmark series of experiments by which scientists learned that every atom has a nucleus where all of its positive charge and most of its mass is concentrated. They deduced this after measuring how an alpha particle beam is scattered when it strikes a thin metal foil.
Rutherford Scattering. Let us start from the one of the first steps which was done towards understanding the deepest structure of matter. In 1911, Rutherford discovered the nucleus by analysing the data of Geiger and Marsden on the scattering of α-particles against a very thin foil of gold.
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Rutherford Scattering Formula. The scattering of alpha particles from nuclei can be modeled from the Coulomb force and treated as an orbit. The scattering process can be treated statistically in terms of the cross-section for interaction with a nucleus which is considered to be a point charge Ze.
How did Rutherford figure out the structure of the atom without being able to see it? Simulate the famous experiment in which he disproved the Plum Pudding model of the atom by observing alpha particles bouncing off atoms and determining that they must have a small core.
Rutherford scattering was the first method used to measure the size of nuclei. More precise measurements are made with electron scattering , and it was discovered that the density of nuclei is approximately constant.
The Rutherford scattering experiment put to rest the Thomson model of the atom, because it could be shown that a positive charge distributed throughout the classical volume of the atom could not deflect the alpha particles by more than a small fraction of a degree.
This is an experiment which studies scattering alpha particles on atomic nuclei. You will shoot alpha particles, emitted by 241Am, at thin metal foils and measure the scattering cross section of the target atoms as a function of the scattering angle, the alpha particle energy, and the nuclear charge.
