Rutherford S Gold Foil Experiment

Rutherford’s Gold Foil Experiment

To help you better understand the concepts that you just researched about Rutherford’s model of the atom, you will now do a simulation of his experiment. This will be done using the Virtual Chemlab program on the computer. To get to the simulation, click on the Virtual Chemlab icon on the screen. Once you are in the lab room click on the Quantum table and then move the mouse near the top until you find the stock room and click on the stock room. Next, on the right of the stock room is a clip board click on it. Click on Rutherford Backscattering and click on the green return to the lab arrow. Then click the off button on the screen. Now you are ready to start the experiment.

1. Put the mouse over each of the three items on the board in the lab and record the identity of each and draw a diagram of the set up. Run the mouse over the top of the phosphorus screen until the word off/on appear and click the on these words to enlarge the phosphorous screen. Next find the persist button to the right of the screen and click on it. Describe your observations of what you see on the green screen. Remember each small dot represents where an alpha particle has hit the screen. 2. Click on the off button and drag the phosphorus screen on the lab board to either the top right or bottom right lighted area. Turn the phosphorus screen on and record your observations. Remember to turn on the persist button. Compare your observations to what you saw in step 1 and explain any differences. 3. Now move the phosphorus screen to the top or bottom left lighted area. Again record your observations once the phosphorus screen is on. Patience the key to this one. 4. Finally, return the gold foil to the samples area of the stock room shelf move the phosphorous screen to its original position on the table and turn on the phosphorous screen. What do you notice compared to what was seen in step 1? Turn off the phosphorus screen and click on the stock room. Now find the metal foils by moving the mouse of the various stock room objects. Then click on either Al (aluminum) or Cu (copper) and return to the lab. Return the metal foil to the original position in step 1. Turn on the phosphorus screen and record your observations with comparisons to your observations with gold foil in step 1.

Congratulations. Professor Rutherford would be proud of your lab skills. Feel free to stop by the Virtual ChemLab any time and try any of the other experiments that are available in the laboratory.