Question

When alpha particles were shot at a gold foil target, most of the particles were undeflected. This indicated to Rutherford that:______.

a) the gold foil was continuous matter.
b) the mass of the gold atoms was spread out thinly.
c) the atoms of gold were mostly empty space.
d) the alpha particles had great penetrating power.
e) the alpha particles had charges opposite to those on the nuclei.

Answer 1

c) the atoms of gold were mostly empty space.

Step-by-step explanation:

When alpha particles were shot at a gold foil target, most of the particles were un-deflected . It proved that the atom is mostly empty . The alpha particle enters the atom its velocity remains unchanged . Alpha particle has great kinetic energy due to great mass . So when it remains undeflected mostly that means the nucleus has great empty space through which alpha particle sails smoothly .