Question

In Rutherford's experiment, most of the alpha particles go straight through the foil because

• A. alpha particles are much heavier than electrons
• B. alpha particles are positively charged
• C. alpha particles move with high velocity
• D. most part of the atom is empty

Answer 1

The correct option is D most part of the atom is empty

The observation that most alpha particles passed straight through the gold foil led Rutherford to conclude that the positive charge in an atom is concentrated in a very small area that is called nucleus. Atoms have mostly empty space. Electrons, which are negatively charged, are distributed throughout this space but take up a very small part of it.