Electric Potential

Homework Solution

25.31 In Rutherford’s famous scattering experiments that led to the planetary model of the atom, alpha particles (charge + 2 e, mass = 6.6 x 10 - 27 kg) were fired at a gold nucleus (charge + 79 e). An alpha particle initiallly very far from the gold nucleus is fired at 2.0 x 107 m/s directly toward the center of the nucleus. How close does the alpha particle get to this center before turning around?

25.29

25.33

Return to Ch25 ToC

(c) Doug Davis, 2002; all rights reserved