Rutherford tracked the motion of tiny, positively charged particles shot through a thin sheet of gold foil. Some particles traveled in a straight line and some were deflected at different angles. Which statement best describes what Rutherford concluded from the motion of the particles?
Answer
A
Some particles traveled through empty parts of the atoms and some particles were deflected by neutrons.
B
Some particles traveled through empty parts of the atom and some particles were deflected by the orbits of atoms.
C
Some particles traveled through empty parts of the atom and some particles were deflected by electrons.
D
Some particles traveled through empty parts of the atom and some particles were deflected by small areas of high-density positive charge in atoms.
Explanation
Most positively charged particles passed straight through the gold foil, so Rutherford concluded that atoms are mostly empty space. A small number were sharply deflected, showing that positive charge and most of the atom’s mass are concentrated in a tiny, dense region called the nucleus. Thus, the correct choice is the statement about small areas of high-density positive charge.
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