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Absolutely small ... they're the nucleus of a helium atom (2protons & 2 neutrons)

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But they are gigantic as compared to a beta particle ... which is just a free electron.

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Note that gamma rays don't have any (rest) mass ... they're just radiation.

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Where could one locate Alpha particles?

Alpha particles are most commonly found when alpha decay occurs. An alpha particle is emitted during alpha decay. Further information about alpha particles can be found on the Wikipedia website.


Describe how smoke detectors use alpha particles and what sets off the alarm?

Smoke detectors use a small amount of radioactive material (usually americium-241) to emit alpha particles. When smoke enters the detector, it scatters the alpha particles, disrupting the electric current within the detector and setting off the alarm.


What will happen if you use beta particles on gold foil?

If the alpha particles hit the gold foil most of the alpha particles will pass through the gold foil because atoms mostly consists of empty space and some alpha particles will be deflected including a very small number of alpha particles will bounce back in the direction they came from because the atom has a very small positively charged mass called the nucleus.


What correctly describes the charge of beta particles and alpha particles?

Beta particles have a negative charge, while alpha particles have a positive charge. Beta particles are electrons or positrons, while alpha particles are helium nuclei consisting of two protons and two neutrons.


Why was existence of a tiny massive and positively charged nucleus was deduced from the observations?

Why or how? The number of alpha particles deflected was small ... indicating the nucleus was small. The deflection of an even smaller amount of alpha particles almost straight back toward the emitting source proved that the nucleus was heavier than the alpha particle. According to previous atomic theory, the alpha particles should have all gone straight through the metal foil, with none deflected. Math calculations based on the deflection pattern showed that the nucleus was repelling the alpha particles, that they were not actually hitting and bouncing off the nucleus... this showed that the nucleus was positively charged.

Related Questions

What is the alpha particles?

The symbol of the alpha particle is the small Greek letter alpha, α


Why does paper stop alpha from traveling?

Paper can stop alpha particles because paper has a higher density compared to air, which makes it more likely that the alpha particles will collide with the atoms in the paper, losing energy and stopping their movement. Additionally, the small size of alpha particles means they are easily absorbed by the materials they come into contact with.


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.


What effect does humidity have on alpha particles?

Alpha particles can be absorbed by water.


Why weren't all the alpha particles deflected in Rutherford experiment?

While most alpha particles passed straight through the foil. A small % of them were deflected at very large angles, some even backscattered. Because alpha particles have about 8000x the mass of an electron and impacted the foil at very high velocitiesIn order for the alpha particles to be deflected by significant amounts, they must pass close to one or more nuclei in the foil. Since nuclei occupy only a very small fraction of the the volume of an atom, and the foil was very thin so it was not very many atoms thick, the likelihood of such close encounters was small and only a small fraction of the alpha particles were deflected by large angles.


What is Alpha radiation stopped by?

Alpha particles are the strongest of the three known types of radiation (alpha, beta, & gamma). Although the strongest, the alpha particles are the least penetrating.They do not tend to penetrate any substance.A well-known example is your skin. Alpha particles do not penetrate your skin barrier. However, alpha particles energy is high and is a cause of skin cancer and genetic mutations.


Where could one locate Alpha particles?

Alpha particles are most commonly found when alpha decay occurs. An alpha particle is emitted during alpha decay. Further information about alpha particles can be found on the Wikipedia website.


In Rutherford experiment why wouldn't the electrons in the atoms of the gold foils affect the paths of the alpha particles?

Electrons are so small that they have no affect. The alpha particles were 2 protons and 2 neutrons being shot thru, even though the electrons have a negative charge..they are so small and take up so little space, the alpha particles probably n ever even came near them.


In Rutherford's experiments why wouldn't the electrons in the atoms of the gold foil affect the paths of the alpha particles?

Electrons are so small that they have no affect. The alpha particles were 2 protons and 2 neutrons being shot thru, even though the electrons have a negative charge..they are so small and take up so little space, the alpha particles probably n ever even came near them.


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.


does this filter get big and small particles?

This filter is designed to capture the smallest of particles and chemicals.


In Rutherfords experiment why wouldn't the electrons in the atoms of the gold foil affect the paths of the alpha particles?

Electrons are so small that they have no affect. The alpha particles were 2 protons and 2 neutrons being shot thru, even though the electrons have a negative charge..they are so small and take up so little space, the alpha particles probably n ever even came near them.