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The Gold Foil experiment demonstrated the (at the time) surprising result that atoms had nuclei. The prevaling model for atoms at the time has been described as "grapes in Jell-O" (with electrons - "grapes" - suspended in a uniform field of positive charge, the "Jell-O"), and the alpha particles Rutherford (actually, it was his students, Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden) was shooting at the foil were expected to pass nearly straight through with only minor deviations.

Instead, what was observed was what Rutherford described as "firing a 15-inch shell at a piece of tissue paper and having it come back and hit you," because it turns out that all the positive charge in the atom is concentrated within a very small region ... the nucleus, and the alpha particles recoiled quite strongly from this concentration of charge.

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What did the Gold Foil Experiment prove?

The Gold Foil Experiment, conducted by Ernest Rutherford, proved the existence of the atomic nucleus. The experiment showed that most of the atom's mass and positive charge is concentrated in a small, dense nucleus at the center of the atom. This discovery revolutionized our understanding of atomic structure.


What was Rutherford trying to prove with his experiment?

Rutherford's experiment aimed to investigate the structure of atoms by studying the deflection of alpha particles as they passed through a thin gold foil. By observing the pattern of deflected particles, he aimed to understand the distribution of positive charge within the atom and propose the existence of a dense, positively charged nucleus at the center. This experiment ultimately led to the development of the nuclear model of the atom.


What did Ernest Rutherford's experiment prove?

We should never say that an experiment has proven something. The Rutherford gold foil experiment led to the hypothesis that an atom's positive charge is concentrated in an incredibly small space at the atom's center.


Who was a student of Niels Bohr who discovered neutrons in the nucleus?

James Chadwick was a student of Niels Bohr who discovered neutrons in the nucleus in 1932. By conducting experiments with beryllium, Chadwick was able to prove the existence of neutrons as a neutral subatomic particle.


How did Einstein prove the existence of atoms?

Einstein did not prove the existence of atoms. This was done by Ernst Rutherford at McGill university using X-rays shot through a piece of gold foil. He found that X-rays were able to pass through a piece of thin gold foil, but that they were scattered in some instances. By doing this, he elucidated the subatomic structure of the atom as a nucleus surrounded by an electron cloud.


What important discovery did Ernest Rutherford make?

He found that the atom was made up of mostly empty space.


Briefly describe Rutherford's experiment?

The Gold Foil Expirament-Rutherford A line of photons were shot through a thin piece of gold, and rutharford theorized that they should pass through. However some passed through while others deflected and some reflected backwards. It gave proof that atoms have a nucleus


What can experiments prove?

An experiment can prove or disprove a hypothesis.


How did the gold foil experiment prove an atom was mostly empty space?

In the gold foil experiment by Rutherford, most alpha particles passed through the gold foil, indicating that atoms are mostly empty space. The few particles that were deflected showed that the positive charge of the atom is concentrated in a small, dense nucleus, which explains why most of the particles passed through without being deflected.


What did the line spectrum prove the existence of?

the existence of released energy


What can an experiment do?

Prove causation


How do you prove the existence of back EMF?

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