Why did most alpha particles go straight through gold foil
Gold foil is mostly empty space
Some alpha particles deflected, why?
- repelled by nucleus of ana atom of gold
* because an alpha particle and a nucleus both have same positive charge
Only a small proportion of alpha particles deflected through a large angle. Why explanation did the cornrows suggest for the proportion being small?
- the nucleus is very small - compared to rest of the atom
* so chance of hitting is very small
Some alpha particles were deflected less than others, why?
- these alpha particles were not so close to the nucleus
* these alpha particles were faster than those which were deflected more
Why did the scientists remove all the air from the apparatus
- avoid absorption / loss of energy of alpha particles
* reduce chance of collisions between air molecules and alpha particles
Why did Geiger and Muller’s experiment take place in a vacuum
So alpha parties won’t divert from oath by particle in air
