Question

Most alpha particles fired at a gold foil pass through undeflected because the

A. gold atoms unlike most metal atoms are relatively far apart.
B. atoms of gold, like any other atoms are mostly empty space.
C. net charge of the gold is zero.
D. electric field is zero inside the gold.

Answer 1

Most alpha particles pass through a gold foil undeflected because atoms, including those of gold, are mostly empty space with a dense, positively charged nucleus occupying only a small portion of the atom's volume.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question concerns why most alpha particles fired at a gold foil pass through undeflected. The correct option is B. atoms of gold, like any other atoms are mostly empty space. This observation was a significant result from the famous gold foil experiment conducted by Ernest Rutherford. His experiment revealed that alpha particles, which are positively charged, would only be deflected by encountering another positive charge, suggesting that the atom's nucleus is small and dense, occupying very little space within the atom. Therefore, most alpha particles passed through the gold foil without deflection, confirming that atoms are composed of mostly empty space with a centrally located nucleus.