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com

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Modern Physics
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Particle and Nuclear Physics
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Marline Kurishingal

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The results of the α-particle

scattering experiment
&
the existence and small size of the
nucleus
Rutherford Alpha Particle Scattering
Experiment

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Rutherford Alpha Particle Scattering Experiment

• Rutherford‘s alpha particle
scattering experiment changed

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the way we think of atoms.

e.
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• Before the experiment the

ct
best model of the atom was
known as the Thomson

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or "plum pudding" model. The
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atom was believed to consist
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of a positive material
w.

"pudding" with negative

ww

"plums" distributed
throughout.

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Rutherford Alpha Particle Scattering Experiment
(continued from previous slide)

Note : Diagram
is only for your
reference, its
not in syllabus

• Rutherford directed beams of alpha particles (which are the nuclei of

helium atoms and hence positively charged) at thin gold foil to test this
model and noted how the alpha particles scattered from the foil.
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Rutherford Alpha Particle Scattering Experiment
(continued from previous slide)

• Rutherford made 3 observations:

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 Most of the fast, highly charged alpha particles

e.
went whizzing straight through un-deflected. This

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was the expected result for all of the particles if

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the plum pudding model was correct.
ga
 Some of the alpha particles were deflected back
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through large angles. This was not expected.

w.

 A very small number of alpha particles were

ww

deflected backwards! This was definitely not as

expected.
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Rutherford Alpha Particle Scattering Experiment
(continued from previous slide)

• To explain these results a new model of the atom was needed.

• In this model the positive material is concentrated in a small but

massive (lot of mass - not size) region called the nucleus. The
negative particles (electrons) must be around the outside
preventing the atom from trespassing on its neighbours space to
complete this model.
• The diagram in next slide will help you to understand the results of
the experiment.
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Rutherford Alpha Particle Scattering Experiment
(continued from previous slide)

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 Particles in the Atom
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Recap…

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e.
Note : This
equation is an

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example for
N balanced

ct
equation. Do not
consider it for

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alpha emission.

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-1

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• In alpha decay 2 protons and 2 neutrons
are emitted. Notice that this reduces
the nucleon number by 4 and the
proton number by 2. A new element is
thus formed.

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• In beta decay a neutron changes into a

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proton (which remains in the nucleus)

e.
and an electron (which is emitted as
beta radiation). The net effect is an

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increase in proton number by 1, while

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the nucleon number stays the same. -1

Again a new element is formed.

le
ga
• When a nucleus has undergone alpha or
me
beta decay it is often left in a high-
energy (excited) state. This energy can
w.

be lost in the form of an emitted a

ww

gamma ray. Because the composition of

the nucleus is unchanged no new
element is formed.

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Recap…

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Recap….

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