Why did Rutherford propose a model for the atom with a very small nucleus containing the bulk of the mass and a positive charge?
A)because a beam of positively charged particles (alpha particles)were partially reflected by a thin gold foil
B)because a beam of positively charged particles (alpha particles)were able to penetrate by a thin gold foil
C)because a beam of negatively charged particles (beta particles)were partially reflected by a thin gold foil
D)because a beam of negatively charged particles (beta particles)were able to penetrate a thin gold foil
E)because a beam of positively charged particles (alpha particles)were completely reflected by a thin gold foil

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rutherford proposed a model for the atom with a very small nucleus containing the bulk of the mass and a positive charge because a beam of positively charged particles (alpha particles)were partially reflected by a thin gold foil, which indicated that the atoms had a small, dense, positively charged nucleus at the center. This experiment is known as the Rutherford gold foil experiment.

Why Did Rutherford Propose a Model for the Atom with a Very