Question

In the simulation, select the Traces check box, and then click the blue dot on the gun. The alpha particles __deflected by the atom’s nucleus. This behavior __the Rutherford model of the atom.

a) are, supports
b) are not, challenges
c) are, challenges
d) are not, supports

Answer 1

In the simulation reflecting Rutherford's experiment, alpha particles are indeed deflected by the atom's nucleus, which supports the Rutherford model of the atom. Thus, the option a is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the Rutherford gold foil experiment, alpha particles were expected to pass through the foil with little to no deflection according to Thomson's plum pudding model. However, Rutherford observed that while most alpha particles were not deflected, a small percentage were deflected at large angles, and some even reversed direction. This unexpected behavior supports the Rutherford model of the atom with a small, dense, positively charged nucleus causing the deflections. Therefore, in the simulation, when you select the Traces check box and click the blue dot on the gun, the alpha particles are deflected by the atom's nucleus. This behavior supports the Rutherford model of the atom.