Rutherford tracked the motion of tiny, positively charged particles shot through a thin sheet of gold foil. Some particles traveled in a straight line and some were deflected at different angles.Which statement best describes what Rutherford concluded from the motion of the particles?
Answer
A
Some particles traveled through empty parts of the atoms and some particles were deflected by neutrons.
B
Some particles traveled through empty parts of the atom and some particles were deflected by electrons.
C
Some particles traveled through empty parts of the atom and some particles were deflected by the orbits of atoms.
D
Some particles traveled through empty parts of the atom and some particles were deflected by small areas of high-density positive charge in atoms.
Explanation
Most positively charged particles passed straight through the foil, so Rutherford concluded that atoms are mostly empty space. The few particles deflected at large angles must have encountered a small, dense region with positive charge, which repelled them. Thus, the best choice is “Some particles traveled through empty parts of the atom and some particles were deflected by small areas of high-density positive charge in atoms.”
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