Question

Explain the drawbacks of Rutherford's model of the atom?

Answer 1

Step 1: Rutherford's model of the atom:

1. In his experiment, Rutherford utilized alpha particles and gold foil.
2. Rutherford did an experiment in which he bombarded a thin sheet of gold with alpha particles and then analyzed the path of the particles after they collided with the gold foil.
3. Rutherford's discoveries contradicted Thomson's atomic theory in many ways.

Step 2: The Rutherford's experiment's conclusion:

1. The majority of an atom's space is vacant.
2. Positive charges occupy a tiny amount of space.
3. The positive charges and mass were concentrated in a relatively small volume within an atom.

Step 3: Rutherford's atomic model has some flaws:

1. He couldn't explain how an atom could be stable.
2. Electrons travel in a circular path around the nucleus, according to Rutherford's theory. However, particles traveling in a circular direction experience acceleration, and acceleration causes charged particles to emit energy. Electrons should eventually lose energy and fall into the nucleus.