In an experiment, similar to Rutherford'sscattering experiments, alpha particles (charge = +2e)were fired at a gold foil. Consider an alpha particle with aninitial kinetic energy K heading directly for the nucleusof a gold atom (charge = +79e). The alpha particle willcome to rest when all its initial kinetic energy has been convertedto electrical potential energy. Calculate the distance of closestapproach between the alpha particle and the gold nucleus for thecase K = 2.85 MeV.

Want an answer?

Get this answer with Chegg Study