An alpha particle colliding with one of the electron in gold atom losses
Answers
Well the answer to that is that the alpha particles do collide with the electrons of the gold atoms, but the mass of the alpha particles (or helium nuclei) is so large compared to the mass of the electrons that the acceleration is almost negligible.
Suppose a single alpha particle is approaching towards a gold atom. What happens is that electrons and the alpha particles apply equal and opposite force on each other, but since the mass of the alpha particles is very large as compared to the electrons, acceleration of the alpha particles is almost zero and the alpha particles would behave as if there were no electrons at all. It is just like a positively charged basketball moving with a constant velocity collides with a negatively charged feather.
P.S - When I say that the alpha particles collide with the electrons, I don't mean the collision is physical and that they really number into each other. By collision I mean that their electric fields come in contact and they start applying equal and opposite force on each other (just like what would have happened if they had physically bumped into each other).
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Answer:
An alpha particle colliding with one of the electrons in a gold atom loses Little of its energy.
Explanation:
- The mass of an electron is hundred of times lesser than the mass of an alpha particle.
- Hence the alpha particles does not transfer much of its energy on collision with the electron.