Final answer:
The surprising result of Rutherford's experiment was that while most positive alpha particles passed through the gold foil, indicating that atoms are mostly empty space, a few bounced back due to collisions with a dense, positive center known as the nucleus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rutherford's atomic model resulted from his experiments with positively charged particles (alpha particles) and gold foil. The surprising result explained using this model was that most positive particles passed through because of the empty space between the outer edge and the center. However, a few positive particles bounced back because they encountered the positive center, or nucleus, of the atoms. This deflection suggested that the nucleus, which contains most of the atom's mass and all its positive charge, was very small and dense relative to the rest of the atom, which is mostly empty space.
Rutherford's model includes a tiny, dense, central core called the nucleus, composed of protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons in motion. This description contradicted the previously held plum pudding model, where it was believed that positive and negative charges were distributed uniformly throughout the atom. His model is often likened to a mini solar system, with electrons orbiting the nucleus like planets orbiting the sun. This nuclear model laid the foundation for the modern understanding of atomic structure.