Ernest Rutherford

1871-1937 (Nelson, New Zealand)

                                           

Interesting Facts of his Life

Had very little money to fund experiments because he was a farmer

He entered college at the age of 16.

Students conducted many of his experiments for him.

Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment (1906)

Consisted of shooting alpha particles at a very thin piece of gold.

98% of the particles went straight through,

2% went through but were deflected at large angles,

.01% were deflected straight back

Contributions to Modern Atomic Theory

Discovered that atoms are mostly empty space.

Established that atoms have a tiny dense center called ‘the nucleus’.

The nucleus contains most of the mass of an atom.

Electrons are found outside of the nucleus.

The nucleus is positively charged.

Rutherford’s Atomic Model

Rutherford Atomic Theory Highlights

Gold Foil Experiment Atomic discoveries - Atoms are mostly

empty space and have a nucleus. Discoveries occurred around 1907.