In Rutherford's scattering experiment, why alpha particles were affect...
Why were alpha particles affected by the thickness of gold foil in Rutherford's scattering experiment?
Ernest Rutherford's gold foil experiment was conducted to investigate the structure of atoms. He used alpha particles, which are positively charged particles, to bombard a thin gold foil. The experiment revealed that atoms have a concentrated center which is called the nucleus. The experiment also demonstrated that the atom is mostly empty space.
The thickness of gold foil
The thickness of gold foil used in Rutherford's scattering experiment was crucial. The experiment was conducted with gold foil thickness ranging from 100 to 400 nanometers. The thickness of the foil affected the trajectory of the alpha particles.
Alpha particles scattering
Alpha particles are positively charged particles that collide with the negatively charged electrons of the atoms in the gold foil. The force of repulsion between the positively charged alpha particles and the negatively charged electrons in the gold foil caused the alpha particles to change their trajectory. The extent of the change in the trajectory of alpha particles depended on the thickness of the gold foil.
Scattering pattern
The scattering pattern of alpha particles was observed on a fluorescent screen placed behind the gold foil. For a thin gold foil, the scattering pattern of alpha particles was uniform, and most of the alpha particles passed through the gold foil without any deflection. For a thick gold foil, the scattering pattern of alpha particles was non-uniform, and some alpha particles were deflected at large angles, and some were even reflected back.
Conclusion
The thickness of gold foil affected the trajectory of alpha particles in Rutherford's scattering experiment. The experiment demonstrated the existence of a concentrated center in atoms, which is now known as the nucleus. The experiment also revealed that atoms are mostly empty space.