LAB 2.

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ATOM MODEL

GOALS
1. Student able to explain models of atom.
2. Student able to explain Rutherford experiment.

DIRECTION
Models of the Atom

1. Describe briefly JJ Thomson’s model of the structure of the atom. Draw a labelled
diagram. JJ believed that an atom is composed of a cloud of
negative charge in a sphere of positive charges. He proposed a model with
properties such as: Negatively charged particles are present in an atom
known as electrons, and the positive and negative charge is equal in
magnitude, therefore an atom is electrically neutral.

Ernest Rutherford had already investigated the deflection of alpha radiation as it

passed through very thin gold leaf. He hypothesised that atoms had a small positive
charge concentrated in the centre. Together with his students Geiger and Marsden,
at the University of Manchester, he conducted an experiment to test this hypothesis.

1909 1911

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2. Describe the 1911 Geiger and Marsden Alpha Scattering Experiment. Rutherford
alongside his colleagues, Geiger and Marsden conducted an experiment called the
alpha scattering experiment which then became the fundamentals of the atomic
structure study. In the experiment, Rutherford emits very high streams of alpha-
particles into a thin sheet of 100 nm thickness of gold. In order to observe the
trajectory produced by the alpha particles, he placed a screen of fluorescent zinc
sulfide around the thin gold foil. Rutherford made certain observations that
contradicted Thomson’s atomic model. The observations are that most of the alpha
particles that are emitted towards the thin gold sheet pass away the foil with no
deflection, which shows that most of the space is empty. And those that are deflected,
possess a trajectory with very small angles, hence it shows that the positive charge is
concentrated in a very small volume in an atom which then later be called as the
nucleus.

http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2017/ph241/sivulka2/

Go simulation. Once there, go to the Play with Simulations tab and click on the HTML5
tab. Scroll down and find Rutherford Scattering. When the new window pops up, click
on the play button to open the simulation. Select the “Plum Pudding Atom”. Turn on
the alpha particles (blue button). Click “Traces” box.

3. Which model of the atom does this represent? The

simulation represents JJ Thomson’s atomic model since it only shows the presence of
electrons, and the alpha particles are not shown to be deflected which shows that the
concentrated region of positive charged particles in the atom’s core are not yet to be
discovered.

4. What type of path do the Alpha particles take? How does altering the energy ofthe
alpha particle effect the direction of the paths? In JJ Thomson’s simulation, all of the
alpha particles that are emitted moves in a straight line and passes through the
electrons shell with ease. We can manipulate the velocity of the alpha particles by
changing the energy of the alpha particles when emitted. The higher the energy, the
faster the alpha particles passes through the thin gold foil

Select the “Rutherford Atom”. Turn on the alpha particles. Click “Traces” box.

5. The gold leaf experiment is set up and the atoms are shown with electron shells.
What type of paths do most of the Alpha particles take? Most
of the alpha particles move in a straight line and passes through the electron shells
with ease since it has no positive charge that deflects the trajectory of the alpha
particles, those that hit the core of the shell got deflected in various angles which
indicates the presence of dense positive charge concentrated in the core of the atom
which we call nucleus.

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6. Compare the paths of the alpha particles in this model and the Plum Pudding atom. The
paths of alpha particles in Rutherford’s model will vary, most of them will go in a
straight line whereas some of them got deflected in a certain angle, indicating the
presence of nucleus. This is contrary with the plum pudding model where all of the
alpha particles pass through the thin gold foil in a straight path without any deflection.

7. How does altering the energy of the alpha particle effect the direction of the paths? The
change in the energy of alpha particles does not affect the direction of its path, since
the angle of deflection would only be affected by where the alpha particles approach
the nucleus in the first place and that an increase in energy would only affect the
velocity of the trajectories.

8. Why do you think that our model of the atom changed after Rutherford’s
experiment?
[ANSWER]
Our model of the atom changed because as time progresses, so does scientific
discoveries. After Rutherford’s model then came Bohr’s Model(Nuclear Model),
which brought the introduction of fixed orbits for the electrons, he also explained that
each orbit has its own fixed energy levels. After that Schrodinger came out with his
model, the Quantum Atomic Model, which came with newer introductions. This
shows that along with time, newer discoveries are made which alter our way of
thinking.

Select the nucleus box . Turn on the alpha particles. Click “Traces” box.

Alpha particles have a +2e charge (2 x 1.6x10-19 C) and gold nuclei have a +79e charge.

9. Vary the energy of the alpha particles. Do any of the alpha particles collide with
gold nuclei? What law appears to be describing the paths of the alpha particles?
[ANSWER]
No, the alpha particles will never collide as the alpha particle and the gold nuclei are
both positively charged. This is based on Coloumb’s law which states that like charges
repel each other but unlike charges attract each other

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10. Describe the energy of an alpha particle as it approaches and is deflected by a gold
nucleus.
[ANSWER]

In the beginning the alpha particles kinetic energy is at its maximum. As it approaches
the nuclei, it slows down, signaling a decrease in kinetic energy and an increase in its
potential energy. After being deflected we can see that its velocity increases again
showing an increase again in its kinetic energy.

11. What would have happened if neutrons had been used in Rutherford’s experiment?
Explain your answer.
[ANSWER]
If neutrons had been used in Rutherford’s experiment, we wouldn’t be able to detect
the nucleus in the middle of the atom. As neutrons, which have neutral charge, will
either pass through the positive charged nuclei or if the energy is big enough, the
neutron will be absorbed by the nucleus.

12..
a. What would have happened if aluminium had been used instead of gold in
the alpha scattering experiment? Explain your answer.
[ANSWER]
What would happen is that the scatter of the alpha particle wouldn’t be as
extreme or as noticeable as it would be if it was a gold nuclei. As the positive
charge in the nucleus of aluminium wouldn’t be as big as the charge of a gold
nucleus.

b. Test your hypothesis by using the Atom box to change the metal (use the
periodic table)
[ANSWER]
By manipulating the values of the proton and neutron, we can see as the value
decreases, the scatter and deflection of the alpha particles is not as major and
wide as the scatter if the nucleus is the gold. Thus proving our theory.

13. How do you think Rutherford was able to estimate the size of the gold nucleus?
[ANSWER]

Rutherford was able to estimate the size of the gold nucleus by measuring the angle
between the refraction of the alpha particles.

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14. What three properties of the nucleus can be deduced from the Rutherford scattering
experiment? Explain your answer.
[ANSWER]
1. The Nucleus has a positive charge, as the alpha particles are deflected by the nucleus
2. The Nucleus is small, as the majority of the alpha particles went straight through
the gold foil, but 1 in 20000 alpha particles would be deflected back indicating a
small but existent nucleus
3. The nucleus is densely packed, as most of the mass in an atom is concentrated in a
small region, which is the nucleus.