Question

Rutherford’s α-particles scattering experiment shows that most of the α-particles pass through almost unscattered while some are scattered through large angles. What information does it give about the structure of the atom?

Answer 1

(i) Since a large number of α-particles pass through almost unscattered, it means that major portion of atom is empty space.

(ii) The scattering of α-particles through large angles showed that these α-particles experience a very strong electric force of repulsion. This indicates that the entire positive charge of atom is confined in a small part of the volume of atom called nucleus.

Answer 2

Most of the α− particles pass through the foil almost unscattered. This implies that most of the atom is hollow with its mass is concentrated at its centre.
Also, a few α− particles are deflected through large angles indicating the presence of force of repulsion between the nucleus and α− particles. This implies that  positively charged particle is presence in the  nucleus. And the most important information is that the whole mass of the atom is concentrated in a small center known as nucleus.