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In conclusion...

Rutherford's experiment involved a radioactive source emitting alpha particles (2 protons and 2 neutrons).

The radioactive source was aimed at a thin sheet of gold.

The main observation made was that a few alpha particles were repelled back the way they had come, and this was not expected. This was because the positively charged alpha particles (2 protons), by the laws of electrostatic repulsion, were repelled by the positively charged nucleus of the atoms in the gold.

He then made the final conclusion of that the small nucleus of an atom is central, has a large mass and positive charge.

So yes, the nucleus is small compared to the size of an atom, however it was mainly the fact that there is one concentration of positive charge (nucleus) in the atom that repelled the alpha particles that helped Rutherford to show the structure of an atom.

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12y ago
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7y ago

Most of the alpha particles that he shot through the atoms did NOT bounce back at him, but went straight through. He reasoned that if the nucleus were large, the alpha particles would bump into it and bounce back. Since that did not occur, he correctly suggested the nucleus was very small and did not occupy much space.

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10y ago

Jj Thomson

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Q: How did Rutherford infer that the nucleus was very small?
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What did Rutherford discover about the volume of the nucleus?

Rutherford supposed that the atomic nucleus is very small compared to whole atom.


Is the nucleus a very small region of the atom?

Yes. It was shown by Rutherford's alpha scattering experiment.


Who is Rutherford in regards to atoms?

Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and the proton. A short answer for the Rutherford atomic model: the atom is composed from a central part - a nucleus, positively charged, surrounded by electrons - very small negative charged particles.


What did Rutherford discover in the core of an atom?

Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and the proton. A short answer for the Rutherford atomic model: the atom is composed from a central part - a nucleus, positively charged, surrounded by electrons - very small negative charged particles.


Which atom did the scientist Rutherford discover?

Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and the proton. A short answer for the Rutherford atomic model: the atom is composed from a central part - a nucleus, positively charged, surrounded by electrons - very small negative charged particles.

Related questions

What did Rutherford discover about the volume of the nucleus?

Rutherford supposed that the atomic nucleus is very small compared to whole atom.


Who said An atom has a nucleus that is very small?

I believe you are refering to Ernest Rutherford.


What did Rutherford tell about atom structure?

Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and the proton.A short answer for the Rutherford atomic model: the atom is composed from a central part - a nucleus, positively charged, surrounded by electrons - very small negative charged particles.Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and the proton. Rutherford don't discovered the atom.A short answer for the Rutherford atomic model: the atom is composed from a central part - a nucleus, positively charged, surrounded by electrons - very small negative charged particles.


What did Rutherford discover about the structure of atoms?

Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and the proton.A short answer for the Rutherford atomic model: the atom is composed from a central part - a nucleus, positively charged, surrounded by electrons - very small negative charged particles.Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and the proton. Rutherford don't discovered the atom.A short answer for the Rutherford atomic model: the atom is composed from a central part - a nucleus, positively charged, surrounded by electrons - very small negative charged particles.


What Rutherford discovered?

Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and the proton. A short answer for the Rutherford atomic model: the atom is composed from a central part - a nucleus, positively charged, surrounded by electrons - very small negative charged particles.


Is the nucleus a very small region of the atom?

Yes. It was shown by Rutherford's alpha scattering experiment.


Who is Rutherford in regards to atoms?

Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and the proton. A short answer for the Rutherford atomic model: the atom is composed from a central part - a nucleus, positively charged, surrounded by electrons - very small negative charged particles.


What did Rutherford proposed with regards to the structure of atoms?

Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and the proton. Rutherford don't discovered the atom. A short answer for the Rutherford atomic model: the atom is composed from a central part - a nucleus, positively charged, surrounded by electrons - very small negative charged particles.


What did Rutherford discover in the core of an atom?

Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and the proton. A short answer for the Rutherford atomic model: the atom is composed from a central part - a nucleus, positively charged, surrounded by electrons - very small negative charged particles.


Which atom did the scientist Rutherford discover?

Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus and the proton. A short answer for the Rutherford atomic model: the atom is composed from a central part - a nucleus, positively charged, surrounded by electrons - very small negative charged particles.


What did Rutherford have to say about the structure of the atom?

Rutherford concluded that they have a nucleus,a central positive nucleus surrounded by negative orbiting electrons.


What did ernest rutherford conclude about the nucleus of an atom?

Rutherford claimed that at the center of an atom there was a very tiny, very dense, positively charged part called a nucleus, surrounded by electrons at a distance.