RUTHERFORD THEORY

Albert C. X10/1 | Julius C. X10/13 | Nicholas S.W. X10/17 | Sinclair K. X10/19

Who is Ernest Rutherford?

He is a New Zealand-born, British chemist and physicist. In 1914, he was knighted and two years later, he was awarded the Hector Memorial Medal. Under him, Nobel Prizes were awarded to James Chadwick for discovering neutron. Rutherford remains the only science Nobel Prize winner to have performed his most famous work after receiving the prize.

RUTHERFORDS RESEARCH

a rays / particles Theory of protons Detector for electromagnetic waves

What are a rays / particles?

High speed particles Made up of two protons and two neutrons Is a nucleus, same as the nucleus of a common atom of helium Dont have electrons around it Type of ionizing radiation will loose all their energy in just a couple inches of travel in air

Lenards Experiment
Lenards experiment was meant to proof that if Thomsons atomic model is right, electrons that go through the aluminum plate shouldve experienced energy loss, so the electrons should be easily refracted.

In Lenards experiment, he shows that Thomsons atomic model is wrong because he found that most of the electrons were not refracted. This shows that electrons are not spread evenly.

Continuation of Lenards Experiment

In 1911, Ernest Rutherford was interested to continue Lenards experiment by replacing electrons with a particle which consist of positive charge. This experiment was conducted by Hans Geiger & Ernst Marsden.

What Rutherford did?

He directed the a rays to a gold plate surrounded by screen coated with sulfide zinc which are around the plate.

WHAT HAPPENED?
1. Some of the a particles pass the empty space go trough
Nucleus

a Particles

Atoms of Gold foil

2. Some of the a particles that approach the nucleus are deflected

Nucleus a Particles

Atoms of Gold foil

3. Some of the a particles that hits the nucleus are bounced back
Nucleus

a Particles

Atoms of Gold foil

CONCLUSION OF RUTHERFORDS THEORY

A large fraction of the room in an atom is empty
Indicated by most of a rays pass through the Nucleus plate

a Particles

Atoms of Gold foil

 Nucleus is tiny yet very dense core of atom

Indicated by little amount of refracted a rays
a Particles Nucleus

Atoms of Gold foil

 Electrons go circle the nucleus with high speed

Indicated by the electrons that are not attracted by protons inside the nucleus

 The charge of the nucleus is the same as a particles, which is positive

Indicated by the deflected rays that deflected due to repulsion forces of similar charge.
Nucleus a Particles

Atoms of Gold foil

RUTHERFORDS THEORY WEAKNESS

Based on Rutherfords theory that states electrons go around the nucleus will stay on its path is unproved. Based on physics classical mechanic law, that objects that going around on circular path will release its energy in the form of radiation, so the electron will be going closer to the nucleus. But then, Rutherfords theory is supported by Bohrs theorem.