Which observation led to the conclusion in the alpha particle scattering experiment that an atom has vast empty space?

Pooja Yadav    June 26 2022 03:05:15 PM

The conclusion was based on the observation that most of the alpha particles passed through the foil undeflected.

VL sharma    June 24 2025 12:34:41 PM

The observation that led to the conclusion that an atom has vast empty space was that most of the alpha particles passed straight through the gold foil without any deflection.

This showed that the majority of the atom is empty, allowing the particles to travel through without hitting anything.

If the positive charge and mass were spread out evenly, as the earlier model suggested, the alpha particles would have been deflected more often.

But since most went through unaffected, it indicated that the atom's mass and positive charge are concentrated in a small central region, and the rest of the atom is mostly empty space.

Abhishek Kumar     June 24 2025 12:35:25 PM

In the alpha particle scattering experiment, it was observed that most of the alpha particles passed through the gold foil without getting deflected.

This surprising result led scientists to conclude that atoms must have a lot of empty space.

If the mass and positive charge were spread throughout the atom, the alpha particles would have been deflected more frequently.

But since they mostly went straight through, it showed that the dense, positively charged part of the atom is very small, and the rest is just empty space where the particles can pass through without any obstruction.

Shejal Kailas Khatode     June 24 2025 12:36:14 PM

During the alpha particle scattering experiment, scientists noticed that most of the alpha particles passed through the gold foil without changing direction at all.

This observation made them realize that atoms must mostly be empty space.

If the inside of the atom was packed with matter, the particles would have bounced off or been deflected a lot more.

But since only a few particles were deflected and most just went straight through, it became clear that the atom’s mass is concentrated in a tiny center, and the rest is just empty space.

Uttam    June 24 2025 12:38:12 PM

In the alpha particle scattering experiment, the key observation was that the majority of alpha particles passed through the gold foil without any deflection.

This led to the conclusion that atoms are mostly made up of empty space.

If the positive charge and mass were spread evenly throughout the atom, many of the particles would have been deflected.

But since most of them went straight through, it showed that there was nothing in their path — meaning the inside of an atom isn’t solid all the way through, but instead has a lot of empty space around a small, dense center.