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Data Interpretation & Analysis 3
The picture below describes the famous gold foil experiment. Examine the picture carefully and describe your findings.
Average Candidate Response
The given diagram shows that some of the alpha particles penetrated through the gold foil whereas some did not and are deflected back. The region off which the alpha particles reflected is likely to have a similar charge to the alpha particles.
The given diagram shows that some of the alpha particles penetrated through the gold foil whereas some did not and are deflected back. The region off which the alpha particles reflected is likely to have a similar charge to the alpha particles.
Excellent Candidate Response
The diagram demonstrates the gold foil experiment, and it illustrates how alpha particles behave when they are projected onto gold foil. In order to conduct this experiment, it is likely that scientists used alpha particles, gold foil and a detector. The diagram shows that when projected onto gold foil, a very small percentage of alpha rays (approximately 20%) were deflected back, but most penetrated directly through the foil. I understand that alpha particles are positively charged and also that ‘like’ charges repel one another. Hence, it may be concluded that the region where alpha rays were deflected back is likely to be of the same positive charge as the alpha rays. On the other hand, the regions where the alpha particles penetrated through the gold foil are likely to be a combination of empty space and negatively charged electrons. Given the paths of the alpha particles, it can be concluded that most of the atom is empty space which contains electrons, and that the nucleus is a small portion concentrated in the middle of an atom.
The diagram demonstrates the gold foil experiment, and it illustrates how alpha particles behave when they are projected onto gold foil. In order to conduct this experiment, it is likely that scientists used alpha particles, gold foil and a detector. The diagram shows that when projected onto gold foil, a very small percentage of alpha rays (approximately 20%) were deflected back, but most penetrated directly through the foil. I understand that alpha particles are positively charged and also that ‘like’ charges repel one another. Hence, it may be concluded that the region where alpha rays were deflected back is likely to be of the same positive charge as the alpha rays. On the other hand, the regions where the alpha particles penetrated through the gold foil are likely to be a combination of empty space and negatively charged electrons. Given the paths of the alpha particles, it can be concluded that most of the atom is empty space which contains electrons, and that the nucleus is a small portion concentrated in the middle of an atom.