Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937)

Rutherford
Rutherford

PAPER
PAPER

Learned physics in
J.J. Thomson lab.
Noticed that alpha
particles were
sometime deflected
by something in the
air.
Gold-foil experiment

Animation by Raymond Chang All rights reserved.

Rutherford Scattering
In 1909 Rutherford undertook a series of experiments
He fired (alpha) particles at a very thin sample of gold foil
According to the Thomson model the particles would only
be slightly deflected
Rutherford discovered that they were deflected through large
angles and could even be reflected straight back to the source
Lead collimator

Gold foil

particle
source

Rutherfords Apparatus
Rutherford received the 1908 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work in nuclear chemistry.

beam of alpha particles

radioactive
substance
circular ZnS - coated
fluorescent screen
gold foil

Dorin, Demmin, Gabel, Chemistry The Study of Matter , 3rd Edition, 1990, page 120

Rutherfords Apparatus

beam of alpha particles

radioactive
substance

fluorescent screen
circular - ZnS coated
gold foil

Dorin, Demmin, Gabel, Chemistry The Study of Matter , 3rd Edition, 1990, page 120

Geiger-Muller Counter
Hans Geiger

Speaker gives
click for
each particle
Window
Particle
path

Argon atoms

Geiger Counter
Ionization of fill gas
takes place along
track of radiation

(-)
(+)

Speaker gives
click for
each particle

Metal tube
(negatively
charged)
Window

+
e-

e+

+ ee-

Ionizing
radiation
path
Atoms or molecules
of fill gas
Wilbraham, Staley, Matta, Waterman, Chemistry, 2002, page 857

Central wire electrode

(positively charged)

Free e- are attracted to

(+) electrode, completing
the circuit and generating
a current. The Geiger
counter then translates
the current reading into a
measure of radioactivity.

What he expected

What he got
richocheting
alpha particles

The Predicted Result:

expected
path

expected
marks on screen
Observed Result:
mark on
screen

likely alpha
particle path

Interpreting the
Observed Deflections
.
.
.

.
beam of
alpha
particles

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

gold foil
Dorin, Demmin, Gabel, Chemistry The Study of Matter , 3rd Edition, 1990, page 120

.
.
.

undeflected
particles

.
.

deflected particle

Rutherford Scattering (cont.)

Rutherford interpreted this result by suggesting that
the particles interacted with very small and heavy
particles
Particle bounces off
of atom?

Case A

Case B

Particle goes through

atom?
Particle attracts
to atom?

Case C

Case D

Particle path is altered

as it passes through atom?

Table: hypothetical description of alpha particles

(based on properties of alpha radiation)

observation

hypothesis

alpha rays dont diffract

... alpha radiation is a stream of particles

alpha rays deflect towards a negatively

charged plate and away from a positively
charged plate

... alpha particles have a positive charge

alpha rays are deflected only slightly by

an electric field; a cathode ray passing
through the same field is deflected
strongly

... alpha particles either have much

lower charge or much greater mass
than electrons

Copyright 1997-2005 by Fred Senese

Explanation of Alpha-Scattering Results

Alpha particles

Nucleus

+
-

+
+
-

+
-

+
-

Plum-pudding atom

Nuclear atom

Thomsons model

Rutherfords model

Results of foil experiment if plumpudding had been correct.

Electrons scattered
throughout
-

positive
charges
+

+
+

Zumdahl, Zumdahl, DeCoste, World of Chemistry 2002, page 57

Interpreting the Observed

Deflections
deflected particle

.
.
.

.
beam of
alpha
particles

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

gold foil
Dorin, Demmin, Gabel, Chemistry The Study of Matter , 3rd Edition, 1990, page 120

.
.
.
.
.

undeflected
particles

Rutherfords
Gold-Leaf
Experiment
Conclusions:
Atom is mostly empty space
Nucleus has (+) charge

Dorin, Demmin, Gabel, Chemistry The Study of Matter , 3rd Edition, 1990, page 120

 Hit moth driving car no change in car

direction
Hit deer car changes direction

Alpha particle

moth
Gold Atom

deer

Large angle of deflection, must have hit massive object!