In the early 20th Century the plum pudding model of the atom was replaced by the nuclear model of the atom, explain why this happened.

The plum pudding model defined the atom as a particle in which the charge and the mass of the atom was spread evenly. An experiment was set up in which alpha particles where shot to a thin gold foil. The expected outcome by this model was that the alpha particles would be evenly scattered by the atoms of the gold foil. However, the result was that most of the alpha particles went through the gold foil very easily, meaning that there was a lot of space between atoms. Thus, this would eventually lead to the creation of the nuclear model of the atom, in which the atom is defined as having the charge spread around it (in the form of electrons orbiting the nucleus) and all of the mass concentrated in the center of the atom, with a very large distance (in atomic scale) between the mass and the charge.

JP
Answered by Joel P. Physics tutor

3682 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Explain why the nuclear model of the atom replaced the plum pudding model of the atom?


What is the difference between a longitudinal and a transverse wave?


A mass of 2kg is dropped from rest at a height of 10m. i) What is the initial GPE of the mass? ii) What is the final velocity of the mass when it hits the ground?


What is meant by the conservation of energy?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences