Rutherford's gold foil experiment and results are given in the following figure (Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment: Rutherford directed alpha particles at a thin sheet of gold foil.Most of the particles passed through the foil,but a small fraction was deflected,and a few even bounced backward. )(Figure 2.6,page 51;Tro P3e).
Which of the following statements best explains the experimental results?

A)Positively and negatively charged particles are uniformly distributed in the atom.
B)Most of the atom's mass and all of its negative charge are contained in a small core.
C)Most of the atom's mass and all of its positive charge are contained in a small core.
D)All of the atom's mass and all of its positive and negative charges are contained in a small core.

Question

Rutherford's gold foil experiment and results are given in the following figure (Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment: Rutherford directed alpha particles at a thin sheet of gold foil.Most of the particles passed through the foil,but a small fraction was deflected,and a few even bounced backward. )(Figure 2.6,page 51;Tro P3e).
Which of the following statements best explains the experimental results?

A)Positively and negatively charged particles are uniformly distributed in the atom. 
B)Most of the atom's mass and all of its negative charge are contained in a small core. 
C)Most of the atom's mass and all of its positive charge are contained in a small core. 
D)All of the atom's mass and all of its positive and negative charges are contained in a small core.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The experiment showed that most of the alpha particles passed through the gold foil, but a small fraction was deflected and some even bounced back, indicating that there is a small core of positive charge in the atom that repels the alpha particles. This led to the conclusion that most of the atom's mass and all of its positive charge are contained in a small core, which was named the nucleus. Therefore, choice C is the best explanation for the experimental results.

Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment and Results Are Given in the Following