Question

After James Chadwick discovered the neutron, atomic theory expanded to include isotopes. Isotopes have many practical uses. For example, scientists use the relative amount of carbon-12 to carbon-14 in ancient bones to determine how old they are. James Chadwick, like Ernest Rutherford, had to infer that neutrons were present in atoms. He made inferences based on observations of the behavior of atoms during experimental tests. Using evidence from Rutherford's gold foil experiment, defend the following claim: Scientific knowledge is based on observation and inference.

a) True
b) False

Answer 1

Scientific knowledge is based on observation and inference, evidenced by Rutherford's gold foil experiment and the inference of the nucleus, which was later supported by Chadwick's discovery of the neutron.

Step-by-step explanation:

Scientific knowledge is indeed based on observation and inference, as demonstrated by Ernest Rutherford's gold foil experiment. By observing the scattering of alpha particles during his experiments, Rutherford inferred the existence of a densely packed, positively charged nucleus within the atom. Similarly, James Chadwick used evidence from experiments like Rutherford's, involving the behavior of atoms under experimental tests, to infer the presence of neutrons.