Explanation:

The Geiger-Marsden experiment was conducted to study the structure of an atom. In this experiment, a beam of alpha particles was directed towards a thin gold foil. The alpha particles were expected to pass through the gold foil with little or no deflection, as it was believed that the positive charge and the negative electrons in an atom are distributed uniformly, reducing the electric field inside the atom. However, the results of the experiment were surprising, as some of the alpha particles were deflected at large angles, and some even bounced back.

Reasons for very small deflection of the beam:

- Electrical forces: According to Coulomb's law, any two charged particles exert a force on each other. In an atom, the positively charged nucleus and the negatively charged electrons are attracted to each other by electrical forces. However, the electrons are in constant motion, creating a cloud of negative charge around the nucleus. This cloud of negative charge reduces the electric field inside the atom, making it difficult for the alpha particles to be deflected.
- Distribution of charge: The positive charge in an atom is concentrated in the nucleus, while the negative charge is distributed throughout the atom. This distribution of charge makes the electric field inside the atom more uniform, reducing the chances of the alpha particles being deflected.
- Collimation of particles: The alpha particles were collimated by lead screens before they were directed towards the gold foil. This was done to ensure that the particles were traveling in a straight line and were not scattered by other particles or objects in the environment.
- Most particles pass through: Despite the above factors, it was still expected that some of the alpha particles would be deflected at small angles due to the random nature of the collisions between the particles and the atoms in the gold foil. However, it was not expected that some of the particles would be deflected at large angles or bounce back, as this implied that the positive charge in an atom was not uniformly distributed.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the very small deflection of the beam was expected in the Geiger-Marsden experiment due to the distribution of charge in an atom and the reduction of electric field inside the atom. However, the unexpected results of the experiment led to the discovery of the nucleus and the development of the modern atomic model.