Inside the Atom — Science STD 8 — Question

1. All the positive charges in an atom is concentrated in a very small region at the centre of the atom. This region is called the nucleus. Electrons revolve around the nucleus, but most of the atom is empty. Alpha particles are positively charged.

2. When a thin sheet of gold is bombarded by alpha particles, most of the particles pass through it without deviation as the atom is almost empty. But some alpha particles move directly towards the positive nuclei, collide with them and due to the electric repulsion, turn back. Thus, in Rutherford’s experiment, some alpha particles colliding with the thin gold foil are turned back.