1. Ernest Rutherford's gold foil experiment led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus. In the experiment, alpha particles were fired at a thin gold foil. Suppose that an alpha particle (charge +2e, mass 6.64 x 10-27 kg) is fired at a gold nucleus (charge +79e) with a kinetic energy of 5.0 MeV. a. Convert the kinetic energy of the alpha particle to joules. b. In order for the alpha particle to be deflected, it must experience an electrostatic repulsion from the gold nucleus that does work to remove it's kinetic energy and change its direction. Determine the distance at which this occurs. (hint- use conservation of energy) C. The radius of a gold atom is 166pm. Does the alpha particle have be "inside" the atom to be deflected?

1. Ernest Rutherford's gold foil experiment led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus. In the experiment, alpha particles were fired at a thin gold foil. Suppose that an alpha particle (charge +2e, mass 6.64 x 10-27 kg) is fired at a gold nucleus (charge +79e) with a kinetic energy of 5.0 MeV. a. Convert the kinetic energy of the alpha particle to joules. b. In order for the alpha particle to be deflected, it must experience an electrostatic repulsion from the gold nucleus that does work to remove it's kinetic energy and change its direction. Determine the distance at which this occurs. (hint- use conservation of energy) C. The radius of a gold atom is 166pm. Does the alpha particle have be "inside" the atom to be deflected?