Answers to AQA GCSE Ernest Rutherford and Nuclear Model

Practice Questions

1. Describe how the alpha particle scattering experiment was carried out

Alpha particles were fired at thin gold foil to probe the structure of the atom. 

2. During the alpha particle experiment, several events were seen. State what each of the following events tells us about the structure of the nucleus

2a.Most of the alpha particles went straight through the gold foil

Most of the atom is empty space.

2b. Some of the alpha particles were deflected as they passed through the gold foil.

This shows that the nucleus of the atom is positively charged.

2c.One or two alpha particles rebounded when they hit the gold foil.

This shows that the nucleus is very small compared to the size of the atom, and that most of the atom’s mass is in the nucleus.

3.Based on the plum pudding model, what should had happened to the alpha particles on reaching gold foil

The alpha particles should had gone through the gold foil if the plum pudding model were true.

4.What was the name of the model, which then replaced the plum pudding model.

Nuclear Model