Rutherford (Ernest Rutherford)

Ernest Rutherford was a pioneering physicist who, through experiments with alpha particles, discovered the atomic nucleus in 1911. He proposed that atoms have a small, dense core called the nucleus, containing positively charged protons, around which negatively charged electrons orbit. This model replaced earlier theories and laid the groundwork for modern atomic physics. Rutherford's work explained the structure of the atom and how it behaves, earning him the nickname "father of nuclear physics." His discoveries significantly advanced our understanding of matter's fundamental building blocks.