Rutherford’s Model of the Atom

On an experimental basis, Ernest Rutherford proved in 1911 that J.J. Thomson’s so-called “plum-pudding model” was incorrect.
Rutherford’s alpha-particle Scattering Experiment
The key points or inferences drawn from Rutherford’s experiment, on which he based his model of the atom were as follows:
  • The atom is 99.9% empty space.
  • Most of the positive charge of the atom is concentrated in a tiny, dense volume at the center of the atom. This is known as the nucleus of the atom.
  • The nucleus is around 100,000 times smaller than the actual atom, and contains positively charged entities called protons, and neutral entities called neutrons
  • The negatively charged particles, electrons, are present in a cloud around the nucleus.
  • This model was also called the “planetary model of the atom” due to its analogy with the planetary system.

  1. According to Maxwell’s theory of electrodynamics, a charged particle under acceleration loses its energy. If this were to happen in Rutherford’s model, the electron would lose energy and hence its path would be am inward spiral: it would eventually collide with the nucleus. This however doesn’t actually happen.
  2. It could not explain the line spectra of hydrogen, or the discontinuous nature of its spectrum.
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    1. Pingback: Today – August 30 | Taking My Time

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