In Rutherford scattering, an alpha particle directed almost head-on toward the nucleus experiences its largest deflection because:

The nucleus has no electric charge

The electron cloud attracts it strongly

The atom has a uniform charge distribution

In Rutherford scattering, an alpha particle directed almost…

Answer: The repulsive force acts along its initial path.

A The repulsive force acts along its initial path
B The nucleus has no electric charge
C The electron cloud attracts it strongly
D The atom has a uniform charge distribution

Correct answer: A. The repulsive force acts along its initial path

Explanation: For a nearly head-on approach, the alpha particle passes very close to the positively charged nucleus. The electrostatic repulsion then produces a very large scattering angle.

Comparison of the Thomson model and the Rutherford model of the atom: in the Thomson plum pudding model alpha particles pass almost straight through a diffuse positive sphere, while in the Rutherford model a concentrated central nucleus deflects some alpha particles through large angles, with the lower panels showing the alpha particle source and gold foil and the observed result of wide-angle scattering

The Geiger–Marsden alpha-scattering result: a few alpha particles bounce back at large angles, which rules out Thomson’s diffuse model and demands a tiny, massive, positively charged nucleus. Image: Kurzon, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Concept context

Thomson's plum-pudding model, Rutherford's nuclear model from alpha-scattering, Bohr's postulates and hydrogen spectrum, spectral series (Lyman to Pfund), Rydberg formula, and limitations of each model.

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In Rutherford scattering, an alpha particle directed almost head-on toward the nucleus experiences its largest deflection because:

Concept context

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