Lesson 3.8.1.1

3.8.1.1 Rutherford scattering Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 8

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.8.1.1, Rutherford scattering: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Physics (7408), Unit 8: Nuclear physics (A-level only), written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What did Rutherford's alpha-scattering experiment show about the structure of the atom?

    • The nucleus contains only neutrons, which deflect alpha particles on contact
    • The atom is a uniform sphere of positive charge with electrons embedded in it
    • Electrons orbit at random distances with no fixed structure in the atom
    • The atom has a small, dense, positive nucleus that holds most of its mass, with mostly empty space around it

  2. Why were a few alpha particles in Rutherford's experiment deflected through large angles?

    • They struck heavy electrons, which are more massive than alpha particles
    • They approached a small, highly charged nucleus, so the large Coulomb repulsion produced a large deflection
    • They were slowed by collisions with neutrons and so reflected backwards
    • They passed through dense regions of the electron cloud that deflect them

  3. What did the plum-pudding model of the atom predict for alpha scattering?

    • Alpha particles would be deflected through angles greater than 90 degrees in most cases
    • Alpha particles would be absorbed by the atoms and never emerge from the foil
    • Alpha particles would be deflected only slightly, since the positive charge was spread thinly over the atom
    • Alpha particles would pass through without any interaction with the atoms at all

  4. Which change would make the closest approach of an alpha particle to a nucleus smaller?

    • Reducing the proton number of the target nucleus
    • Replacing the target with one that has a larger radius
    • Decreasing the alpha particle's initial kinetic energy
    • Increasing the alpha particle's initial kinetic energy

  5. An alpha particle of kinetic energy 5.0 MeV approaches a gold nucleus (Z = 79) head-on. Estimate its closest approach, using k = 9.0 x 10^9 N m^2 C^-2 and 1 MeV = 1.6 x 10^-13 J.

    • 2.3 x 10^-13 m
    • 4.6 x 10^-15 m
    • 4.6 x 10^-14 m
    • 9.1 x 10^-14 m

  6. Which quantity can be estimated from the closest approach of alpha particles to a nucleus?

    • the half-life of the target material
    • the radius of the nucleus
    • the mass of the electron
    • the wavelength of the alpha radiation

  7. Why is gold, with Z = 79, a better target than aluminium, with Z = 13, for estimating nuclear size with alpha particles?

    • Its larger atomic radius means alpha particles collide with it more often
    • Its electrons shield the nucleus, so the alpha particles pass through unchanged
    • Its higher nuclear charge gives stronger repulsion, so the alpha particles approach closer before turning back
    • Its lower mass means that the alpha particles are deflected more easily

  8. An alpha particle has its initial kinetic energy doubled while approaching the same nucleus head-on. How does its closest approach change?

    • It is unchanged
    • It quadruples
    • It doubles
    • It halves

  9. What is the approximate ratio of the atomic radius to the nuclear radius?

    • about 10 times
    • about 10^10 times
    • about 100 times smaller
    • about 10^4 to 10^5

  10. A head-on alpha particle has zero speed at its closest approach. What does this show?

    • The alpha particle has gained momentum from the nucleus
    • The nucleus has absorbed the alpha particle completely
    • All its energy has been converted into internal energy of the nucleus
    • All its kinetic energy has been converted into electric potential energy of repulsion at that point

  11. Which target nucleus gives the greater closest approach for alpha particles of the same energy?

    • gold (Z = 79), since closest approach is proportional to nuclear charge
    • aluminium (Z = 13), since it is lighter
    • both equal, since closest approach depends only on alpha energy
    • aluminium, since its electrons repel alpha particles more strongly

  12. Which observation in the Geiger-Marsden experiment was most significant in showing that the nucleus is small?

    • all alpha particles were deflected by the same small angle
    • the foil glowed when struck by alpha particles
    • a small number of alpha particles were scattered through large angles, including some close to 180 degrees
    • most alpha particles passed straight through the foil with no deflection at all

  13. An alpha particle of 5.0 MeV kinetic energy is equal to how many joules? Use 1 MeV = 1.6 x 10^-13 J.

    • 8.0 x 10^-6 J
    • 1.6 x 10^-19 J
    • 3.1 x 10^-13 J
    • 8.0 x 10^-13 J

  14. A thin gold foil is used in alpha scattering. Why must the foil be thin?

    • so that the foil is more likely to absorb every alpha particle
    • so that the foil cools the alpha source during the experiment
    • so that most alpha particles undergo only a single scattering event, making the results easier to interpret
    • so that the foil can be seen clearly through the microscope

  15. What order of magnitude is the radius of a gold nucleus?

    • about 10^-18 m
    • about 10^-6 m
    • about 10^-14 m
    • about 10^-10 m

  16. In a head-on alpha scattering event with an initial kinetic energy of 2.0 MeV on a nucleus of Z = 50, what is the closest approach? Use k = 9.0 x 10^9 N m^2 C^-2.

    • 3.6 x 10^-13 m
    • 7.2 x 10^-15 m
    • 1.8 x 10^-14 m
    • 7.2 x 10^-14 m

  17. What does the Coulomb equation for closest approach assume?

    • that the nucleus mass is the only factor affecting the scattering
    • that the alpha particle's momentum is zero at the start because of friction
    • that the alpha particle's kinetic energy is entirely converted into electric potential energy at the point of closest approach
    • that the alpha particle's kinetic energy is entirely converted into gravitational potential energy

  18. A student halves the kinetic energy of an alpha particle approaching a nucleus head-on. By what factor does the closest approach change?

    • It halves
    • It quadruples
    • It doubles
    • It is unchanged

  19. Electrons diffract from a nucleus, and the intensity pattern against angle gives the nuclear radius. Why is this method useful?

    • electrons interact with the nuclear charge through the electromagnetic force, and the pattern minima reveal the size
    • electrons are heavier than alpha particles so they reach deeper into the nucleus
    • electrons can only reach the outer shell of an atom
    • electrons pass through the nucleus and measure its mass directly

  20. Which is the most reasonable reason why the closest approach estimate gives only an upper limit on the nuclear radius?

    • gravitational attraction increases the apparent radius of the nucleus
    • the alpha particle is stopped by Coulomb repulsion before it touches the nucleus
    • the de Broglie wavelength of the alpha particle makes it appear bigger
    • the electrons add to the apparent radius of the nucleus

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