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Alpha particles are positively charged helium nuclei. As such, they are repelled by other positively-charged nuclei. In Rutherford's experiment, he used gold foil. Since gold atoms have large, massive nuclei, the alpha particles were easily repelled by the large gold atom nuclei, and they were scattered in different directions.

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Why the alpha particles could not smash the nucleus apart?

The alpha particle is positively charged (as is the nucleus) and is heavy compared with the neutron that is neutral and lighter than the alpha particle.Another viewpoint:It depends what experiment the question is about. For example, over a hundred years ago, Rutherford bombarded gold foil with alpha particles and some "bounced off" what we now call the nucleus of the atoms. However, about ten years later he did experiments in which alpha particles did indeed "split" atomic nuclei. So, sometimes alpha particles can certainly smash a nucleus apart.


How neutrons were discovered?

When Beryllium is bombarded with alpha particle some stream of particles are found to be coming out. First such an experiment was done by Bothe and Becker. But they mistook those particles coming out as intense gamma radiation as it was not deflected by magnetic or electric field. Later the same experiment was done by Fredrick Joliot and his wife Irene Joliot. They too lost the chance of finding that as neutron. Finally James Chadwick did the same experiment and found precisely the particles having almost equal mass as that of proton and not having any charge. He named that one as Neutron.


Which particle is most massive in radioactivity?

You think probable to alpha particles.


What is meant by bombarding a thin sheet of beryllium by alpha particles?

"Bombarding a thin sheet of beryllium by alpha particles" generates a neutron flux. In nuclear weapons design, it is sometimes necessary to produce a heavy flux of neutrons at just the right instant in time, relative to the assembly of super prompt critical mass. It turns out that beryllium is a good producer of neutrons when bombarded with alpha. The alpha source is often polonium. One design has the two in sheets that do not interact with each other, due to separation with gold and nickel, until the initiating shock wave compresses them together, along with the mass of fissile material, usually plutonium.


An alpha particle is composed of which subatomic particles?

A Helium Nucleus so 2 protons and 2 neutrons Quarks are contained within the neutrons & protons and there are many types

Related Questions

In Rutherford's gold foil experiment what particles were fired at a thin piece of gold?

I believe they are called the Alpha particles and yes, they did pass through a sheet of gold foil.


Do the alpha particles in Rutherford's experiment contain electrons?

No, alpha particles are helium nuclei made up of two protons and two neutrons, with no electrons. In Rutherford's experiment, alpha particles were used to probe the structure of atoms by scattering off the positive nucleus, helping to reveal the atom's structure.


Which type of particles did Rutherford fire at gold foil?

Rutherford fired alpha particles at the gold foil during his famous gold foil experiment. These alpha particles were positively charged and were emitted from radioactive elements.


What is the use of radium in Rutherford experiment in the lead box?

Radium was used in Rutherford's experiment to act as a source of alpha particles. The lead box was used to shield the experiment from external sources of radiation interference, allowing for more accurate measurements of the alpha particles' behavior.


Who was the scientist who showed that alpha particles are helium nuclei?

Ernest Rutherford discovered that alpha particles are helium nuclei during his famous gold foil experiment in 1909. This experiment provided evidence for the existence of a dense, positively charged atomic nucleus.


When Rutherford performed his metal foil experiment did the alpha particles pass straight through the foil or bounce back?

In Rutherford's metal foil experiment, some alpha particles passed straight through the foil, while others were deflected at various angles. A small fraction of the alpha particles even bounced back towards the source. This led Rutherford to conclude that atoms have a small, dense nucleus at their center.


Who said atoms were made up of subatomic particles?

Rutherford proved it it from his alpha-particle scattering experiment.


Why did Rutherford conclude that an atoms nucleus has a posotive charge instead of a negative charge?

when carrying out the alpha scattering experiment, he observed that some alpha particles got deflected from their course. as alpha particles are helium nuclei, they are positively charged. the fact that they deviate made him think that there might be some repulsion between the particles and the nucleus. as positive charges repel each other, he determined the nucleus to be positively charged.


The kind of particle Rutherford used to shoot through gold foil?

Rutherford shot high-energy alpha particles (two protons and two neutrons, or a helium nucleus) at the gold foil. A small fraction of these alpha particles bounced back, and that is how Rutherford discovered the nucleus.


Who conducted the gold foil experiment to discover the nucleaus?

Ernest Rutherford was responsible for the Gold Foil experiment. A great portion of Ernest Rutherford's research included the study of alpha particles.


What part of the atoms caused the particles to bounce?

The heavy, dense nucleus of the atom caused the alpha particles to bounce back in Rutherford's experiment.


Who worked with sir ernest Rutherford?

If you're talking about the experiment with the alpha particles, then it was Hans Gieger and Ernest Marsden.