Question

The conclusion of Rutherford from his $\alpha$-ray scattering experiment is:

• A. many particles were deflected from their path, indicating that the positive charge of the atom occupies very small space.
• B. many particles were deflected from their path, indicating that the positive charge of the atom occupies very large space.
• C. most of the space inside the atom is empty because most of the $\alpha$-particles passed through the gold foil without getting deflected.
• D. a very large fraction of alpha-particles were deflected by ${180}^o$, indicating that all the positive charges and mass of the gold atom were concentrated in a very small volume within the atom.

Answer 1

The correct option is C most of the space inside the atom is empty because most of the $\alpha$-particles passed through the gold foil without getting deflected.

The conclusion of Rutherford from his $\alpha$-ray experiment are:

(i) Most of the space inside the atom is empty because most of the alpha-particles passed through the gold foil without getting deflected.

(ii) Very few particles were deflected from their path, indicating that the positive charge of the atom occupies very little space.

(iii) A very small fraction of alpha-particles were deflected by ${180}^{\circ }$,

indicating that all the positive charges and mass of the gold atom were concentrated in a very small volume within the atom.
From the data he also calculated that the radius of the nucleus is about 105 times less than the radius of the atom.