Tutorial Lecture #2
1. What are the distance of closest approach and impact parameter? Derive their expression
and the expression of their relationship.
2. What is the difference between Rutherford’s model and Thomson’s atomic model?
3. Why was the observation of larger angle scattering of alpha particle in Geiger and
Marsden experiment was surprising?
4. Rutherford used the principle of scattering to “see: inside the atom. Is it possible to use
the principle of scattering to “see” inside a proton and a neutron? Explain?
5. How did Rutherford arrive at the conclusion that the whole positive charge of the nucleus
is concentrated at the center of the atom?
6. Explain how Rutherford used the results of Geiger and Marsden to justify the planetary
atomic model and to refute the Thomson model.
7. Give evidence that support that electrons are not part of nuclear matter.
8. Explain why the neutron hypothesis was made and what experiment verified the
hypothesis
9. Derive the expression for Rutherford differential scattering cross-section, σs.
10. What is the distance of closest approach to the nucleus of an alpha-particle, which
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undergoes scattering by 180 in the Geiger-Marsden Experiment?
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11. An alpha particle is scattered through an angle of 25 on passing through a thin copper
foil. The energy of the particle is 12 MeV. Find the impact parameter. The atomic number
of copper is 29.
12. In a head on collision between an alpha particle and an aluminum nucleus, the minimum
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distance of approach is 0.8 x 10 m. What is the initial kinetic energy of the alpha
particle?
13. The distance of closest approach of an alpha-particle fired towards a nucleus with
momentum, p is r. What is the distance of closest approach of alpha-particle with
momentum, 2p? If the alpha-particle is fired toward the same nucleus.
14. Find the potential energy of two alpha particles when they are brought together to a
distance of 1.20 x 10-15 m, the approximate size of a nucleus.
15. Find the potential energy of an electron and a proton when they are brought to a distance
5.29 x 10-11 m to form a hydrogen atom.
16. In a Rutherford scattering experiment, 4.0 MeV alpha particles are incident on a silver
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foil. Calculate the impact parameter, b corresponding to a deflection of 8 .
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17. The number of particles scattered at 60 is 100 per minutes in an α-particle scattering
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experiment, using gold foil. Calculate the number of particles per minutes scattered at 90
angle.
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18. An alpha particle of kinetic energy 16 x 10 J approaches a gold nucleus having charge
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of 113.3 x 10 C. Calculate the radius of the nucleus if at a distance of nearest approach
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K.E of the particle is equal to the P.E. Given charge on alpha particle is 3.2 x 10 C.
19. (a) The radius of the nucleus of gold can be found from scattering experiments. Find the
maximum radius of a gold nucleus that is bombarded by 7.68 MeV alpha particles. (b)
The actual radius is calculated using the expression R R0 A1 / 2 where Ro the radius
constant is 1.4 fm for alpha particles scattering experiment. (c) How much does the
previous estimation differ from the actual radius of gold? What can you do to improve or
narrow down the difference?
20. Alpha particle of energy 4 MeV are scattered back from a gold (Z = 79). Calculate the
maximum volume in which the positive charge on the atom is likely to be concentrated.
21. What fraction of a beam of 5.0 MeV alpha particles incident upon a gold foil 400 nm
thick is scattered by more than 90 degrees?
