Question detail
Which model of the atom was replaced by the nuclear model due to evidence from the alpha scattering experiment?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Atoms and isotopes
Question
- A. The solid sphere model
- B. The plum pudding model
- C. The quantum model
- D. The electron cloud model
Answer
The plum pudding model
Explanation
The evidence from the alpha scattering experiment showed that the atom has a dense nucleus, contradicting the plum pudding model which depicted the atom as a diffuse cloud of positive charge.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Alpha Particle Scattering
Students often think that the deflection of alpha particles is the main evidence for the nucleus's existence, rather than understanding that the bouncing back of a few particles indicates a concentrated mass.
Focus on the significance of the few alpha particles that bounce back, as this suggests that most of the atom's mass is concentrated in a small nucleus, rather than just the deflection of particles.
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