What led to the Plum Pudding model being replaced by Rutherford's nuclear model of the atom? (6 marks)

The Plum Pudding model states that charge and mass is spread throughout the atom. An idea that electrons are spread within a mass of positive charge.Rutherford carried out an experiment where he fired high energy alpha particles at gold foil and observed the scattering of the particles. Most alpha particles fired went straight through suggesting than an atom is mainly empty space. Some positively charged alpha particles were deflected through large angles by the positive charge, concentrated at the nucleus. A few alpha particles were reflected straight back by the dense positive nucleus. Hence, disproving the Plum Pudding model.

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Answered by Rachna P. Physics tutor

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