Question

In the Geiger-Marsden scattering experiment the number of scattered particles detected are maximum and minimum at the scattering angles respectively at
(a) 0° and 180°
(b) 180° and 0°
(c) 90° and 180°
(d) 45° and 90°

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is

1) 0° and 180°

Answer 2

Answer:

The number of scattered particles detected are maximum at an angle 0° and minimum at angle 180°.

Explanation:

• Ernest Rutherford and his assistants Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden has performed experiments between 1908 and 1913 to study the structure of atom.
• Experimental set up consists of a beam of alpha particles from a radioactive source strike a thin gold foil surrounded  by a zinc sulfide screen to observe the scattered alpha particle.
• The observations made were that majority of particles passes undisturbed, few with small angles of deflection, and few are bounced backwards.
• The maximum particles came undisturbed due to the empty space in the atom, and the minimum reflected back is due to presence of nucleus at the center.
• As the size of nucleus is very small compared to the size of of atom, more particles pass through undisturbed and only few coming against nucleus go back.
• Therefore the number of scattered particles detected are maximum at scattered angle 0° and minimum at angle 180°.
• Hence, the correct answer is option (a).