Rutherford Gold Foil Experiment

The Rutherford Gold Foil Experiment, conducted in 1909, aimed to explore the structure of the atom. Researchers fired alpha particles at a thin gold foil. Most particles passed through, but some deflected at wide angles. This surprising result led scientists to conclude that atoms have a small, dense nucleus at their center, surrounded by mostly empty space. The nucleus contains positively charged protons, contradicting the previous "plum pudding" model of the atom. This experiment was crucial in shaping the modern understanding of atomic structure, revealing that the atom is mostly empty space with a central nucleus.