In Rutherford\'s famous scattering experiments that led to the planetary model o

Question

In Rutherford's famous scattering experiments that led to the planetary model of the atom, alpha particles (having charges of +2e and masses of 6.64 times 10-27 kg) were fired toward a gold nucleus with charge +79e. An alpha particle, initially very far from the gold nucleus, is fired at 1.1 times 107 m/s directly toward the nucleus, as in the figure below. How close does the alpha particle get to the gold nucleus before turning around? Assume the gold nucleus remains stationary. Your response differs from the correct answer by orders of magnitude, m

Explanation / Answer

kq1q2 (1/r2 - 1/r1) = 0.5 m v2

8.99e9*2*1.6e-19*79*1.6e-19 * (1/r2 - 1/) = 0.5 * 6.64e-27 * (1.9e7*1.9e7)

3.6362752e-26 (1/r2) = 0.00000000000119852

>>> r2 = 3.034 * 10^-14 m

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