4. DESCRIPTION Alpha particles from the polonium sample passed through lead slit for a narrow beam. Then they passed through thin gold foil.A t the centre of the fluorescent screen more scintillations were observed .some were observed little above and few further above as it is shown in the figure. Rutherford told positive charge of atom should be contained at the centre of the atom;only then repulsive force 2Ze*e/r Newtons (Z is atomic number, e is electron charge and r is radius of nucleus) could have deflected alpha particles.Deflection occurred because alpha particles too are positively charged.
5. THEORY The fact that more alpha particles went straight shows that there is more space between electrons and the positively charged nucleus. The angle of scattering depends upon the factor called âimpact parameter.â closer the approach of alpha particle more the de4flection was observed. The impact parameter is given by the factor,b= Ze*e* cot0.5 0 .5mv*v 4 where is angle of scattering,m is mass of alpha particle&v is its velocity.
6. DEFINITION FOR IMPACT PARAMETER Impact parameter(b) is the perpendicular distance between the velocity vector and centre of the nucleus. b