Atomic Theory

Ernest Rutherford

What was observed seemed to be consistent with what the scientists had expected: most of the particles went through the metal foil and were barely deflected from the original source of alpha particles. However, what was also observed, and took Rutherford by surprise, was that occasionally the alpha particles would be deflected at very large angles. Sometimes these angles were larger than 90 degrees, and on rare occasions, the alpha particles were even shot back toward the lead block!

When Rutherford discussed the experiment later in his career, he was quoted as saying: "It was quite the most incredible event that has ever happened to me in my life. It was almost as incredible as if you fired a 15-inch shell at a piece of tissue paper and it came back and hit you."

Due to these observations, the Thomson plum pudding model must be flawed; therefore, a new model of the atom had to be developed. This new model from Rutherford revolutionized how physicists viewed the atom. And to think, his major contribution to science happened after he had already won the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking work in radioactivity. Rutherford was truly one of the most influential scientists of his generation!