Rutherford Scattering

Rutherford Scattering Screenshot
  • Atomic Nuclei
  • Atomic Structure
  • Quantum Mechanics
Java Logo Original Sim and Translations

Topics

  • Atomic Nuclei
  • Atomic Structure
  • Quantum Mechanics

Description

How did Rutherford figure out the structure of the atom without being able to see it? Simulate the famous experiment in which he disproved the Plum Pudding model of the atom by observing alpha particles bouncing off atoms and determining that they must have a small core.

Sample Learning Goals

  • Describe the qualitative difference between scattering off positively charged nucleus and electrically neutral plum pudding atom.
  • For charged nucleus, describe qualitatively how angle of deflection depends on: Energy of incoming particle, Impact parameter, Charge of target
Version 1.1.9

Teacher Tips

Download teacher tips PDF Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ).

Teacher-Submitted Activities

Atomic models homework (Inquiry based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Sam McKagan, Kathy Perkins and Carl Wieman UG-Intro
UG-Adv
HW Chemistry
Physics
Rutherford Goil Foil vs. Other Metals Marisa Scoville HS Guided
HW
Chemistry
Mapping of PhET and IBDP Physics Jaya Ramchandani HS Other Physics
Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment David Pepple HS
MS
Lab Physics
Chemistry
Preguntas de razonamiento para todas las simulaciones HTML5 A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López MS
HS
K-5
UG-Adv
UG-Intro
Grad
HW
Discuss
Physics
Chemistry
Astronomy
Mathematics
PREPARATORIA: Alineación de PhET con programas de la DGB México (2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López UG-Intro
HS
Other Chemistry
Mathematics
Physics
Le développement du modèle atomique de Rutherford Lindsay Kidd Grad Guided Chemistry
MODELO ATÓMICO DE RUTHERFORD FRANCISCO CRUZ CANTU HS Guided
HW
Lab
Demo
Physics

Language Download or Run Tips
Albanian All shqip Run now Shpërndarja e Radherfordit
Arabic All العربية Run now تشتت رذرفورد
Arabic (Saudi Arabia) All العربية (السعودية) Run now تشتت رذرفورد
Azerbaijani All Azerbaijani Run now Rezerford səpilməsi
Basque All Euskara Run now Rutherdord-en esperimentua
Belarusian All беларускі Run now Рассейванне Рэзерфарда
Bosnian All Bosanski Run now Rаderfordovo (Rutherford) rаsijanje
Bulgarian All български Run now Експеримент на Ръдърфорд
Chichewa All Nyanja Run now 卢瑟福散射
Chinese (Simplified) All 中文 (中国) Run now 卢瑟福散射
Chinese (Traditional) All 中文 (台灣) Run now Rutherford Scattering_拉塞福散射實驗
Croatian All hrvatski Run now Rutherfordovo raspršenje
Czech All čeština Run now Rutherfordův rozptyl
Danish All Dansk Run now Rutherford-spredning
Dutch All Nederlands Run now Rutherfordverstrooiing
Estonian All Eesti Run now Rutherfordi hajumine
Finnish All suomi Run now Rutherfordin koe
French All français Run now Diffusion de Rutherford
Galician All Gallegan Run now Dispersión de Rutherford
Georgian All ქართული Run now რეზერფორდის გაბნევა
German All Deutsch Run now Rutherford Streuung
Greek All Ελληνικά Run now Σκέδαση Ράδερφορντ
Hebrew All עברית Run now פיזור ראתרפורד
Hindi All हिंदी Run now रुदरफोर्ड विकिरण 
Hungarian All magyar Run now Rutherford-szórás
Indonesian All Bahasa Indonesia Run now Hamburan Rutherford
Irish All Gaeilge Run now Scaipeadh Rutherford
Italian All italiano Run now Diffusione di Rutherford
Japanese All 日本語 Run now ラザフォード散乱
Kannada All Kannada Run now ರದರ್ಫೋರ್ಡ್ ನ ಚದುರುವಿಕೆ
Kazakh All Kazakh Run now Себудің Резерфорды
Khmer All Khmer Run now ការ​ពង្រាយ
Korean All 한국어 Run now 러더포드 산란
Latvian All Latviešu Run now Rezerforda izkliede
Macedonian All македонски Run now Рутерфордово расејување
Marathi All मराठी Run now रुदरफ़ोर्ड विचलन
Mongolian All Монгол (Монгол) Run now Резерфордын Сарнил
Norwegian Bokmal All Norsk bokmål Run now Rutherfordavbøynig
Persian All فارسی Run now پراکندگی رادرفورد
Polish All polski Run now Doświadczenie Rutherforda
Portuguese All português Run now Dispersão de Rutherford
Portuguese (Brazil) All português (Brasil) Run now Espalhamento de Rutherford Download teacher tips PDF
Russian All русский Run now Резерфордовское рассеяние
Serbian All Српски Run now Радерфордово (Rutherford) расејање
Slovak All Slovenčina Run now Rutherfordov pokus
Slovenian All Slovenščina Run now Rutherfordovo sipanje
Spanish All español Run now Dispersión de Rutherford Download teacher tips PDF
Spanish (Mexico) All español (México) Run now Dispersión de Rutherford Download teacher tips PDF
Spanish (Peru) All español (Perú) Run now Dispersión de Rutherford
Spanish (Spain) All español (España) Run now Dispersión de Rutherford
Swedish All svenska Run now Rutherfordspridning
Turkish All Türkçe Run now Rutherford Saçılması
Turkmen All Turkmen Run now Rezerford ýaýratmasy
Ukrainian All українська Run now Резерфордівське розсіювання Download teacher tips PDF
Vietnamese All Tiếng Việt Run now Tán xạ Rutherford

HTML5 sims can run on iPads and Chromebooks, as well as PC, Mac, and Linux systems.

iPad:
iOS 12+ Safari
iPad compatible sims

Android:
Not officially supported. If you are using the HTML5 sims on Android, we recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome.

Chromebook:
Latest version of Google Chrome
The HTML5 and Flash PhET sims are supported on all Chromebooks.
Chromebook compatible sims

Windows Systems:
Microsoft Edge, latest version of Firefox, latest version of Google Chrome.

Macintosh Systems:
macOS 10.9.5+, Safari 9+, latest version of Chrome.

Linux Systems:
Not officially supported. Please contact phethelp@colorado.edu with troubleshooting issues.

Design Team Third-party Libraries Thanks To
  • Amy Hanson
  • Sam McKagan
  • Jesse Greenberg
  • Chris Malley
  • Dave Schmitz
  • Wendy Adams
  • Michael Dubson
  • Noah Finkelstein
  • Danielle Harlow
  • Ariel Paul
  • Kathy Perkins
  • Noah Podolefsky
  • Carl Wieman
  • almond-0.2.9.js
  • base64-js-1.2.0.js
  • FileSaver-b8054a2.js
  • font-awesome-4.5.0
  • game-up-camera-1.0.0.js
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  • lodash-4.17.4.js
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  • text-2.0.12.js
  • TextEncoderLite-3c9f6f0.js